Infantryman pleads not guilty to stabbing fellow JBLM soldier

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — An infantryman charged with stabbing a fellow soldier in the heart has pleaded not guilty to a murder charge.

The News Tribune reports that Pvt. Jeremiah Hill entered his plea Monday during the first day of his court-martial.

Hill is charged with killing Spc. Tevin Geike in October 2013.

Officials say the slaying occurred when Hill and a group of soldiers encircled Geike and two friends on Pacific Highway in Lakewood. Testimony at the pretrial hearing revealed that both groups had been partying that night.

Hill is charged with grabbing Geike and stabbing him before running to his car.

The Army took over the case from Pierce County prosecutors in December. The court-martial is expected to finish by the end of this week.