Posted on 08/09/2007 9:52:41 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
All charges were dropped Thursday against Marine Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005.
"The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote in his written decision. Under military law, a commanding general has total jurisdiction over a case.
Sharratt, 22, of Canonsburg, Pa., had been charged with murder in the deaths of three of those killed after the bomb attack on Nov. 19, 2005.
The decision to drop the charges followed an earlier recommendation from a hearing officer who listened to evidence in the case.
In his recommendation, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said murder charges brought against Sharratt were based on unreliable witness accounts, insupportable forensic evidence and questionable legal theories.
"The government version is unsupported by independent evidence," Ware wrote in an 18-page report. "To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary."
Prosecutors alleged Sharratt and other members of his battalion engaged in a revenge-motivated assault on Iraqi civilians after a roadside bomb killed a fellow Marine. Sharratt contended the Iraqi men he confronted were insurgents and at least one was holding an AK-47 rifle when he fired at them.
Ware said prosecution of Sharratt could set a "dangerous precedent that ... may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and its mission in Iraq."
"Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy," Ware said.
Mattis said he made his decision after looking at all the evidence presented at the Article 32 evidence hearing, much like a preliminary hearing in criminal courts.
"You have served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq where our nation is fighting a shadowy enemy who hides among the innocent people, does not comply with any aspect of the law of war, and routinely targets and intentionally draws fire toward civilians," Mattis wrote.
"Operational, moral and legal imperatives demand that we Marines stay true to our own standards and maintain compliance with the law of war in this morally bruising environment," he said.
"With the dismissal of these charges, you may fairly conclude that you did your best to live up to the standards ... in the face of life or death decisions made by you in a matter of seconds in combat."
Besides Sharratt, two other enlisted men were charged with murder. Four officers were accused of failing to investigate the deaths.
Bush will be saddened. But, hey, there are always more border guards.
Good, now can we get on with the war??!! Thank you very much!
Murtha could not be reached for comment, he’s in a closet somewhere blubbering.
I’ll bet their are some JAGs calling Sutton to find out how he does it.
Murtha needs to be disgraced for his participation in trying to smear these Marines. He’s quick to dish it out, but cowers when it comes to admitting his guilt. Murtha is a disgrace and needs to be voted out of office.
All charges against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt dropped by general
PTL
Give him a big hug for all of us, Dad and Mom Sharratt.
Thank You Gen. Mattis and hearing officer Ware!
Thanks for posting. Of course there will be those who will never believe that this was not a bunch of “cold-blooded murderers” after Murtha’s poisonous spouting.
Just got off the phone with my son, calling from Ramadi. It is so humbling, what these young Marines are doing and being asked to do there.
Semper Fi
Marine Mom
Bush will be saddened. But, hey, there are always more border guards.
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At least it’s one less candidate for a Presidential pardon down the road. Didn’t take long to turn this into an immigration thread, btw. ;-)
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You’re welcome.
Thanks and Blessings to both of you and your Son and Godspeed.
paging john murtha, please call your orifice.
This is some good news. I can’t believe all those who are trying to sell America down the road.
Absolutely. And TIme needs to be put out of business for spreading enemy propaganda against our troops.
...apologies need also from the MSM who convicted this young Marine even before his hearing.
And join in an effort to shame Murtha and the MSM on that thread.
Finally, a ray of common sense!
Have any serious media outlets asked him for a comment?
If he declines to comment, will the MSM at least report his refusal?
Am I turning blue, yet?
I agree 100% on this Murtha jerk. Not supposed to question him because he was a military officer. Well so was Kerry and look at what that waste of human cells did and still does. This country would be much better off if both of these clowns would go into retirement or better yet, just leave the country and go try to destroy another country.
Thank You for those links.
Tried to push this in Breaking for a bit but it got moved out of there.. Oh well...
If only our courts had this kind of justice.
One more link from earlier. Thanks!
Gen Mattis dismisses charges against LCpl Sharratt in Haditha case
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1878716/posts
Thanks for posting this, Norm.
The media should be contacted and asked to demand answers from Murtha for the grossly untrue statements he made to Wolf Blitzer, Chris Matthews and other media about the Haditha Marines, what he said was blatantly false and he deprived these Marines of their presumption of innocence.
Murtha’s offices should also be contacted to demand an accounting from him.
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/feedback/cnntv/ CNN contact page for shows and individuals
MSNBC
hardball@msnbc.com Matthews
joe@msnbc.com Scarborough
Tucker@msnbc.com Carlson
GeneralComments@feedback.msnbc.com
FNC
Special@foxnews.com (Brit Hume)
Myword@foxnews.com (John Gibson)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,77538,00.html FNC contact page
John Murtha’s Contact information:
Telephone:
800-289-2642 from Western PA
814-535-2642
202-225-2065
Snail Mail:
647 Main St, Suite 401
Johnstown, PA 15901
Fax:
814-539-6229 — District
202-225-5709 — Washington
“And as you have always remained cloaked in the presumption of innocence, with this dismissal of charges, you remain in the eyes of the law- and in my eyes- innocent.” Lt. Gen James T. Mattis
There is no ambiguity there for the MSM to spin.
Didja hear that, McGirk? Do you SEE this, Murtha?
INNOCENT!
Where are all the lefty kooks with the “Murders in Haditha!” or just the mellow, but still-conclusive “Haditha shows that....blah, blah, blah...war is bad...blah, blah, blah...”
It’s true that the circumstances might have ended being a tragedy, in the definitive sense. But a tragic situation and cold-blooded murder (as was now we know for sure FALSELY charged) are two entirely different things.
Course, I’m sure the leftists will be lining up to recant their false witness. Right?
Reworded slightly:
"Even more dangerous is the potential that a one sent by us, our government, may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy," we the government of the people said.
Let God determine guilt when that time comes - and it certainly will.
Thank You for the links and email addys!
If only our courts had this kind of justice.
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I hear what you are saying.
I would take the battle hardened opinion of a General over a crusty liberal-bent Judge anyday.
I respectfully salute your son for his service. Kudos to you also, NEMDF, for being a Marine Mom.
who were the other soldiers that had the charges dropped???
and we are waiting to hear on how many more??
thanks...
Someone please inform John Murtha.
Finally common sense prevails.
Bend over Murtha, time for an atomic combat boot kick to your bung hole. Don’t forget to say “thank you sir, may I have another?!” MSM, it is your turn next.
Thanks. Kind of an emotional morning here! With my son’s call and this news on Justin Sharratt... And patriotic parade music (think John Phillips Sousa!) going in my brain with visions of all FReepers together waving flags and cheering... (okay I am nuts but I think that is required of Marine Moms?)...
No, there are a bunch of JAGs (this one included), saying that the process set out in the Uniform Code of Military Justice worked just as it is supposed to work. This is PRECISELY why there’s a pretrial investigation procedure under Article 32. Justice was served.
Colonel, USAFR
Bullsh*t. In the USAF, the best prosecutors become Area Defense Counsel precisely BECAUSE they’re so good. Have you any clue how many areas besides military justice require judge advocate support?
Colonel, USAFR
Colonel, USAFR
I've got a clue as to how many months the JAG in the USMC has pulled point, been the #1 in the door or led a fire team.
none...
From the safety of the wire they get a bullsh#t report from a muzzie and a reporter that makes a man fear for his liberty because he acted as a MARINE.
I'd be glad to let JAG handle sexual harassment, divorces,rapes, burglaries, assaults etc..on base or when not involved with combat. (like the guys in the Army that raped and murdered a little girl)
But when it relates to combat, especially in an urban environment, either sign up for the outside of the wire or stay in the rear with the gear.
Thank God the USMC and Mattis did right by this man. How much money did he and his family have to spend to clear his name? How can we repay the time in the brig when he was supposed to be getting R&R after living through combat?
I'd like to get each Freeper that is reading this that has seen the sh#t and been in combat to think how'd they feel if after you got home, stateside, you'd have to put up with this.
I'd be so p#ssed off at the Corp and especially at the media, butt monkey-Murtha, and JAG for putting me and my family through this, I'd never forgive them.
I'm all for pulling everybody back if this is what Marines have to live through in order to conduct war. I'm sure this is the point of all the litigation, discourage Marines, Rangers and Spec Ops from doing the job.
Few will think this dismissal is not correct. I know this is trying for those of us with our kids in uniform and the press barrage but we can lustily say, “hot damn, three cheers for the General”
At the core, it's STILL the Corps.
Do not send Marines to fight an un-uniformed enemy who uses the civilian population for support, sustenance, cover and ally - and expect Marines to hesitate too long in killing ANY AND ALL WHO THREATEN THEM or their mission.....
In future - I would prefer to see ALL threatening sites reduced to a single level of smoking rubble, before the Grunts are sent in.....
I appreciate the “damned if you do, and damned if you don’t” position that JAG soldiers are stuck in and do not envy them.
My dad was a JAG Master Sgt.in the Battle of the Bulge and all through Europe. Bronze Star.
Funny how all the sneering clowns who had these guys tried and convicted based wholly on the Junk Media reports are suddenly gone now.
Anger is probably the second thing that hits these Marines.
RELIEF is probably the first and most satisfying sensation..
The anger can ONLY be relieved by exacting some severe CONSEQUENCES on the sonuvabitches who made all this necessary as a result of their very public grandstanding and intentionally morale busting attempt..
Yes - I am thinking SPECIFICALLY of Congress Critter Murtha...
That pompous, self serving corrupt sonuvabitch.....
He MUST be required to issue a public apology for violating all that is sacred in our system of justice and our respect for the UCMJ...
How could such an defective and soiled person ever rise to a position of trust in the Government?
A POX on his ass....
I haven’t been particularly impressed with the vigor used by JAGs in chasing down and arresting Marines who are defending America. Nor have I been proud of the ‘deals’ worked out to get these kids to testify against their comrades.
RaceBannon is our local expert on this subject. Please continue this debate with him as he is much more aware of all the little details of the various cases than I am.
Me too.
Amazing.
Thank goodness there is still some sanity left in this world. All the best to the Sharratt family.
Yep....Murtha and his admirers are simply another example of the depths to which our society has fallen....
Proving what many of us have known for a LOOOOG time..
The country has been overrun by breeds of assholes who do not deserve the Republic our predecessors built at great cost in blood and treasure — nor am I convinced they have the spine or desire to sustain the Republic...
The dumb, cowardly, welfare dependent leaches, incompetent and corrupt blood sucking “public servants” and illegal aliens have become the majority.....
These misfits will inherit and will lose the “Late Great America”....unless America WAKES UP.
Murtha and Kerry need to go in “disgrace” not just be allowed to quietly leave. Disgrace is what they earned!!
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