WASHINGTON
A former naval commander cited for his service during the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks is standing trial on charges that he faked injuries to get money from the victims' compensation fund.
In opening arguments Tuesday, a federal prosecutor accused Charles Coughlin and his wife, Sabrina, of stealing $331,000 from the fund by filing a false claim.
Attorneys for the Coughlins said the claim was legitimate. They said Charles Coughlin injured his neck when a plane crashed into the Pentagon about 75 feet from his office and pieces of the ceiling hit his head. They said he was hurt again when he went back into the burning building to rescue others and ran into a door jam.
Prosecutors contend his symptoms are from a 1998 injury that he suffered while doing home repairs.
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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/10/AR2009031003396.html
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