A federal jury on Wednesday discovered a person not responsible of assaulting a girl at a U.S. analysis station in Antarctica in a case that drew consideration amid reviews of harassment and assault on the station.
Stephen Tyler Bieneman pulled tissues from a field on the protection desk and cried as every juror was polled and stated they discovered him not responsible of misdemeanor assault in reference to an incident final November at McMurdo Station. Jurors deliberated for 1-1/2 hours after a day during which Bieneman testified that he did not provoke the incident or hurt the lady.
“It is taken an enormous toll on my fame,” he stated outdoors the courtroom. “This vindicates him,” stated his legal professional, Birney Bervar.
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McMurdo Station, a United States Antarctic analysis station, is photographed on Oct. 27, 2014. Stephen Tyler Bieneman, accused of assaulting a girl at a U.S. analysis station in Antarctica, testified at his trial on Nov. 8, 2023, that he by no means harm her throughout a bodily altercation in a dorm lounge final 12 months. (Nationwide Science Basis by way of AP, File)
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The decision got here amid elevated scrutiny of McMurdo. An Related Press investigation in August uncovered a sample of girls at McMurdo who stated their claims of sexual harassment or assault have been minimized by their employers, typically resulting in them or others being put in additional hazard.
Final week, the watchdog workplace overseeing the Nationwide Science Basis stated it was sending investigators to McMurdo because it expands its investigative mission to incorporate alleged crimes comparable to sexual assault and stalking.
Assistant U.S. Lawyer Mohammad Khatib advised jurors this week in U.S. District Courtroom in Honolulu that Bieneman bought on prime of the lady after she took his nametag from his coat as a joke. The prosecutor stated Bieneman pinned her down and put his shin throughout her throat, stopping her from with the ability to breathe.
In his closing argument Wednesday, Khatib stated Bieneman might have critically injured or killed the lady.
Bieneman, a discipline security coordinator skilled in conducting searches and rescues, testified that the lady “type of instantly bought in my face” when he returned to a dormitory lounge after celebrating his birthday and Thanksgiving with a bunch. Based on his testimony, she had cursed at him and was upset she wasn’t invited to the gathering.
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At one level he left the lounge to return a key to a hut he used for the celebration. When he returned, he seen one of many alcoholic seltzers he left behind was open. He stated he requested the lady if she took it, and she or he stated she additionally took his nametag.
“I stated, ‘Hey that’s not cool … please give it again,'” Bieneman testified. “She stated, ‘You’re going to need to battle me for it.'” He stated she grabbed his arms and fell onto her again whereas holding on to him.
“She was utilizing all of her energy in opposition to me to stop me from getting my nametag again,” he testified.
Bieneman denied placing his shin on her neck.
“Not solely did I not assault her I used to be making an attempt my absolute hardest to not harm her,” he stated.
Dr. Christopher Martinez, the doctor who later examined the lady, testified Wednesday that he had expressed doubts that she was assaulted. Underneath cross-examination by Khatib, the physician denied trivializing her complaints of ache.
After the incident, Bieneman was despatched to a distant icefield the place he was tasked with defending the security of a professor and three younger graduate college students. He remained there for a full week after a warrant for his arrest was issued, paperwork obtained by the AP present.
The professor wrote in a criticism that Bieneman was “domineering and demanding” of the 2 feminine graduate college students on the camp and that he advised them he had had a battle with a girl at McMurdo. The professor wrote that they have been astounded to seek out he was assigned to the workforce when it was already recognized that he was below investigation.
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Bieneman stated outdoors of court docket that he was stunned by the professor’s criticism. “I believed I had relationship with them,” he stated. “I felt I stored them protected and labored laborious.”
The Nationwide Science Basis declined to reply AP’s questions on why Bieneman was despatched out into the sector in a crucial security position whereas below investigation. The case raised additional questions on decision-making within the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is below scrutiny.
Bervar, Bieneman’s legal professional, stated after the trial that the scrutiny unfairly led to his consumer being charged.
The prosecutor stated he was upset by the decision. “We felt like we had a righteous case,” Khatib stated.
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