An Article 32 is set to begin Friday morning in the case of an Air Force staff sergeant charged in the December strangling death of a sailor in Germany.

Staff Sgt. Sean Oliver, 34, is charged with killing Navy Mass Communications Specialist 2nd Class Dmitry Chepusov, 31, who was found unresponsive in a vehicle Dec. 14 in Kaiserslautern.

German authorities said Chepusov was discovered in the passenger seat after police stopped Oliver for driving erratically, Stars and Stripes reported. A German police spokesman also said Oliver was intoxicated, according to the report. Chepusov was pronounced dead at the scene. A German autopsy said Chepusov died of "force to the neck."

Oliver was charged with manslaughter by a German judge before being handed over to U.S authorities, Stars and Stripes reported.

Both Oliver and Chepusov worked for American Forces Network.

In addition to being charged with murder under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, Oliver faces charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements about Chepusov's death.

Friday's hearing, which is similar to a civilian preliminary hearing, will be held at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. At its conclusion, the investigating officer will forward his findings to the convening authority, who will decide whether to send the case to court-martial.

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