[RedRover]

The last paragraph isn't quite right. LCpl. Sharratt's hearing will be on June 11 (after Lt. Col. Chessani). Sgt. Wuterich's hearing is scheduled for July 13.

[montag813]

These charges are a stain on the honor of the military. Thousands of innocent French were killed by Allied GI’s in WWII. Not one of those men were brought up on murder charges, regardless of the circumstances. If anyone should share a cell, it is Donald Rumsfeld and the Joint Chiefs. Their treatment of our fighting men as criminals is a new and disgraceful turn in the history of this nation.

[RedRover]

The San Diego Union-Tribune doesn’t allow posting on Free Republic, but their latest report is a major breakthrough. The media is finally talking about insurgents in Haditha: 8 killed in Haditha called insurgents: If true, it could help 3 accused Marines

[Girlene]

The general said it wasn't until questions were raised in January 2006 by a Time magazine reporter that he had any inkling the killings may have violated the rules of engagement.

Nobody thought an investigation was warranted until a Times reporter tells them they need one. Hmmmm.

But Stone's defense that senior officers, including Huck and the battalion commander at the time, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, didn't seem to think any investigation was necessary may be the tipping point for whether the charges against him stand.

Sounds rational to me. Wonder if the Investigating Officer, McCann, will agree with the North County Times?

[jazusamo]

If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

Marine Defense Fund

[do the dhue]

bookmark

[hellinahandcart]

review

[Liberty Valance]

Thanks for posting. We pray for these Marines every day.

[freema]

Kicking the wall Ping and the incredible simplistic stupidity, waste of time and talent, etc., etc., etc. I will need some steel-toed boots before it's over.

Gittins' comments outside court were supported by Maj. Dana Hyatt, a Marine liaison officer in Haditha, who testified yesterday under a grant of immunity that four men that Marines killed inside one of three houses that the Marines cleared were insurgents. If proved, the developments could complicate the prosecution of three Marines charged with murder in the November 2005 incident.

“Obviously this will make a difference,” said Tom Umberg, a former military defense counsel, prosecutor and judge. “It's a fact favorable to the defense. I think it adds a new dynamic to what the Marines did. It may affect whether their actions were reasonable.”

John Hutson, former judge advocate general for the Navy and now president of the Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H., agreed that this could help the defense.

“If it is true and one-third are insurgents, it would certainly be complicated to explain how these guys should have been able to differentiate between the good guys and the bad guys,” Hutson said.

[MrEdd]

ping. I think the Duklax boards will see a familiar prosecutoral pattern here.

[RedRover]

As reported in this article, 38 grand was paid to 15 families 10 days after the incident.

This guy was one of the ones who raised a stink for more money...