Accuser says she told West Point cadet in sex case: 'Stop'

The military trial of Cadet Lukas M. Saul at the U.S. Military Academy began days after the Department of Defense said reports of sexual assaults and complaints of sexual harassment rose sharply during the 2014-15 school year.

Testimony began after lawyers spent Wednesday morning questioning the 12 Army officers who make up the court martial panel.

According to the Department of Defense report released Jan. 8, the Army, Navy and Air Force academies received a total of 91 sexual-assault reports in 2014-15, up from 59 in the previous school year.

Pentagon officials said the increase was due largely to students' growing confidence in the reporting system and expanded awareness programs.

Barbara Boxer, of California, and Mazie Hirono, of Hawaii, in urging Defense Secretary Ashton Carter to lift what they called the military justice system's "cloak of secrecy" and make records from sex crimes cases readily accessible.