Another Haditha case falls apart
Mar 28th 2008MichaelIraq & Marine Corps & War
The federal government prosecution team is loosing the ability to intimidate and the use of threats and scare tactics is starting to fail in the last couple cases against Marines doing the jobs other (legal)Americans won’t do…
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) - The Marine Corps dropped its case and gave full immunity Friday to a serviceman who was accused of involuntary manslaughter in a squad’s killing of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005.
The case against Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, 26, of Edmond, Okla., was dropped as jury selection was about to begin for his court-martial. The government has been seeking Tatum’s testimony against the squad leader, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich of Meriden, Conn.
In addition to two counts of involuntary manslaughter, Tatum had been charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault. Tatum’s attorney, Jack Zimmerman, said there was no agreement with the government before the dismissal.
“Absolutely, there is no deal,” he said.
Zimmerman said Tatum would testify if called as a witness in future trials but that he would testify as a neutral witness, not a government witness.
But that won’t diminish the will of the liberal press and their ability to pressure the military justice system to crucify American fighting men in battle with a ruthless enemy.
Four enlisted Marines were initially charged with murder and four officers were charged with failing to investigate the deaths. Over time the case has shrunk, including removal of all murder charges. Tatum was the third enlisted Marine to have all charges dismissed.Only two officers remain charged.
Even the leadership agreed that is was within the rules of engagement and this is really only because some jackass wants to show the world how evil America is and the liberal press is supporting them in this lie.
The highest-ranking defendant is Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani of Rangley, Colo., commander of the Camp Pendleton-based 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment at the time of the Nov. 19, 2005, Haditha killings. Chessani, accused of dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order, has said he didn’t order a formal investigation because he believed the deaths resulted from lawful combat.
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3 Responses to “Another Haditha case falls apart”
Pirate’s Cove — Global Warming Rules! » Blog Archive » Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup on 30 Mar 2008 at Sun 30 March 2008 06:39:55 #
[…] Flight Pundit exposes more of the Haditha case falling apart […]
GM Cassel AMH1(AW) USN RET on 30 Mar 2008 at Sun 30 March 2008 08:14:57 #
So when does Murtha get his Article 32 and then a General Courts-Martial?
He was after all a Colonel, wasn’t he? Or is that MSM bull****?
As far as this Old Retired Petty Officer is concerned, the Commandant of The Marines Corps should summon Murtha to Eighth and I streets. He would then have to surrender his sword and ring and be sent packing in shame. I served with Marines in the West Coast A-6 community and I would guess their reactions to be a bit on the harder side. Gunnery Sergeant Slater could do it with out any colorful language.
Raven on 30 Mar 2008 at Sun 30 March 2008 17:34:41 #
Yeah ‘cept Murtha holds the purse keys. He can destroy the Marines simply by cutting off funding to them. He just needs to go…impeachment, elect out, whatever…he’s an old coot so maybe he’ll just die off. Either way that day can’t come fast enough. AND he’ll meet HIS DUE JUSTICE when he tries to enter heaven….which is guarded by US MARINES.