---
title: "Former Green Beret to plead not guilty to murdering suspected Taliban bomb-maker in 2010"
description: "Former Army Special Forces Maj. Matthew Golsteyn will plead not guilty to murder at his arraignment on Thursday at Fort Bragg, North Carolina."
date: "2019-06-25"
modified: "2019-06-25"
authors:
  - name: "Jeff Schogol"
    job_title: "Senior Pentagon Reporter"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/jeff-schogol.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/golsteyn-pleads-not-guilty/"
categories:
  - "Army"
  - "Around the World"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
  - "United States"
tags:
  - "central command"
  - "justice"
  - "scandals"
  - "special operations command"
---

# Former Green Beret to plead not guilty to murdering suspected Taliban bomb-maker in 2010

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/19622881-1.jpg>)

Former Army Special Forces Maj. Matthew Golsteyn will plead not guilty to a charge of murder for allegedly shooting an unarmed Afghan man whom a tribal leader had identified as a Taliban bomb maker, his attorney said.

Golsteyn will be arraigned on Thursday morning at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Phillip Stackhouse told Task & Purpose.

No date has been set for his trial yet, said Lt. Col. Loren Bymer, a spokesman for U.S. Army Special Operations Command.

Golsteyn has repeatedly admitted to killing an Afghan identified as "Rasoul" in his charge sheet on Feb. 22, 2010 near Marjah.

A tribal leader had told Golsteyn that Rasoul had built a bomb that had killed two Marines. When Rasoul was released due to lack of evidence against him, Golsteyn was worried that he would kill the tribal leader who had pointed him out.

Golsteyn later [claimed he legally ambushed Rasoul,](<https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/they-do-not-obey-their-own-rules-soldier-facing-murder-case-says-he-must-defend-himself-against-the-army/2019/02/09/a4cdb5b2-2baf-11e9-97b3-ae59fbae7960_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.df1a6b72f2e3>) who was walking back toward Taliban positions. The Army charged Golsteyn with murder in December.

The case took an unexpected turn in May when the lead investigator pleaded guilty to making false official statements for wearing unauthorized decorations, including the Purple Heart. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Delacruz was reduced in rank to specialist.

President Donald Trump has tweeted his support of Golsteyn, whom he called a "U.S. military hero." The president is reportedly considering pardoning him.

### SEE ALSO: Trump Raises Questions About Killing Vs. Murder By Embracing US Troops Accused Of War Crimes

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## Author
Jeff Schogol is the former senior Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose. He reported on both the Department of Defense as a whole and individual services, covering a variety of topics that include personnel, policy, military justice, deployments, and technology.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/jdschogol/>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-schogol-188a9317/>)  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/JeffSchogol>)

## More

- [Former Green Beret charged with murder says he killed suspected Taliban bomb-maker in an ambush](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/golsteyn-taliban-ambush.md>)
- [Trump orders dismissal of murder charge against former Green Beret accused of killing a suspected Taliban bomb maker](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/trump-golsteyn-pardon.md>)
- [Army Charges Green Beret With Murder For Killing Suspected Taliban Bomb-Maker In 2010](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/green-beret-murder-charge.md>)
- [Green Beret charged with murdering suspected Taliban bomb-maker will finally get his day in court](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/green-beret-matthew-golsteyn-court-martial-date.md>)
- [Army Plans To Charge Green Beret For Alleged Murder Of Taliban Bomb-Maker, Attorney Says](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/green-beret-charged-murder.md>)
- [Army Moving Forward With Case Against Green Beret Charged With Killing Suspected Taliban Bomb-Maker](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/green-beret-hearing.md>)
- [Army investigator who led Green Beret murder case pleads guilty to stolen valor charges](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-investigator-guilty-stolen-valor.md>)
- [Trial of former Green Beret accused of killing suspected Taliban bomb maker delayed until February](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/golsteyn-trial-delayed-february.md>)