Aircraft crash kills 7 in Afghanistan

Aircraft crash kills 7 in Afghanistan

KABUL

A civilian cargo aircraft crashed at Bagram Air Field, north of the Afghan capital, soon after takeoff Monday, killing all seven people aboard, the U.S.-led military coalition said.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the crash, but the coalition said in a statement to The Associated Press: “Taliban’s claims are false.”

It said the cause of the crash was being investigated by emergency crews that rushed to the site, but there was no sign of insurgent activity in the area at the time.

Capt. Luca Carniel, a coalition spokesman, said the aircraft crashed from a low altitude right after takeoff.

Boston defense team gets boost

BOSTON

The defense team representing the Boston Marathon bombing suspect got a major boost Monday with the addition of Judy Clarke, a San Diego lawyer who has won life sentences instead of the death penalty for several high-profile clients, including the Unabomber and the gunman in the rampage that injured former Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

Clarke’s appointment was approved Monday by U.S. Magistrate Judge Marianne Bowler.

Lawyer: Feds should fix searched home

OXFORD, Miss.

A Mississippi man’s house is uninhabitable after investigators searched it but failed to find evidence of the deadly poison ricin, a lawyer said Monday, arguing that the government should repair the home.

Kevin Curtis once was charged in the mailing of poisoned letters to President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker and a Mississippi judge, but the charges later were dropped. The investigation shifted last week to another man who had a falling-out with Curtis, and that suspect appeared in court Monday on a charge of making ricin.

Curtis’ lawyer, Christi McCoy, has sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Felicia Adams demanding that Curtis be provided temporary housing and the government repair his Corinth, Miss., home and possessions. She also wants the government to pay his legal bills.

Female soldier pleads guilty

FORT CARSON, Colo.

A female soldier in the U.S. Army has pleaded guilty to desertion after fleeing to Canada to avoid a second tour of duty in the Iraq war.

Pfc. Kimberly Rivera entered her plea Monday and was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a bad-conduct discharge.

The 30-year-old has said she became disillusioned with the U.S. mission in Iraq while serving there in 2006.

During a two-week leave in the U.S. in 2007, Rivera crossed the Canadian border after she was ordered to serve another tour in Iraq. She applied for refugee status but was denied.

She was the first female U.S. Army soldier to flee to Canada to avoid a second tour of duty in the Iraq war.

Stabbing mystery

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif.

A region of oak-studded hills in California, where big-city dwellers come to get away from crime, was on lockdown Monday, two days after a mysterious intruder stabbed an 8-year-old girl to death at home before being spotted by her 12-year-old brother.

The Calaveras County Sheriff’s Office has released little information about the killing other than a vague description of a man with long, gray hair who fled when the boy confronted him. Calaveras County Deputy Coroner Steve Moore said the girl died from multiple stab wounds.

Associated Press