Posted on 11/29/2007 7:50:43 PM PST by InvisibleChurch
INDIANAPOLIS -- Jenni Crowley says she can't understand why her son, a Marine reservist, is charged with murder in the death of an Iraqi soldier. Next week, she'll be in California to watch his lawyers try to clear him.
The court-martial of Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes, 22, a graduate of Indianapolis' Ben Davis High School, is scheduled to begin Monday at Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he has been held in a brig since February.
Holmes (pictured) is accused of fatally stabbing Munther Jasem Muhammed Hassin as the two men stood watch at a security post in Fallujah, Iraq, on Dec. 31, according to one of Holmes' attorneys.
Holmes is charged with unpremeditated murder. Crowley and Holmes' defense team say he was acting in self-defense.
"I can't believe this," Crowley told 6News' Rafael Sanchez of the charge. "This is a nightmare."
Steve Cook, one of Holmes' attorneys, said earlier this year that Holmes and Hassin struggled in darkness after Hassin allegedly opened his cell phone and then lit a cigarette.
The men were not supposed to display any illuminated objects because of the threat of sniper fire, and Holmes made repeated attempts to make Hassin extinguish the cigarette, Cook said.
Holmes knocked the cigarette out of Hassin's hands, and they started wrestling, according to Cook. Holmes thought Hassin was reaching for his loaded AK-47, so the Marine killed him with his bayonet and then radioed for help, Cook said.
Crowley said her son "has never wavered from the fact that he did not intend to kill this Iraqi soldier."
"He facing the possibility of life in prison, based on the charges, simply for defending himself when he felt he had no other option," Crowley said.
Crowley started a Web site to inform people about the case and raise money for Holmes' legal defense fund.
Crowley will go to California for the court-martial, which is expected to last about two weeks.
"It won't be easy," she said. "It will be a very hard time again for our family and for Del, but I have to believe that the God I know and love and trust will see us through somehow."
Sounds like the Iraqi was trying to get them fired on. The American did what he had to do. Good for him.
I remember when this happened. I thought at the time that only insane political correctness could have put this Islamic jerk in the same sentry post as one of our troops.
If anything, the commander who thought this stupid idea up should be brought up on charges. You don’t risk the lives of your men to make a political point.
“only insane political correctness could have put this Islamic jerk in the same sentry post as one of our troops.”
True, and only insane PC could see him up on charges.
We have to do something about PC.
From reading about this before Holmes did the right thing. Breaking light discipline under those conditions was asking for a bullet and bringing him up on charges is BS.
Seems any charge they can bring up that is plain BS they do. It needs to stop ASAP. Prayers for our soldiers.
Correct! I completely agree and also with your depiction of Murtha. :-)
OTOH ( speaking strictly in a merely hypothetical situation) I might have been similarly prosecuted under the UCMJ, if one of my subordinates ignored my privately offered friendly advise, that they seriously consider deserting their post, before I actually shot them...
I still think all of the senate & congress need drug testing, alcohol testing, & testing for dementia too. Because I think many of them are on some substance. Many are just too old IMHO to be making choices for the rest of us. I think if everyday people can be tested in their jobs then so should the congress & senate. Sometimes I really think many of them are plain drunk or demented.
I would like to know who the genius was who thought it would be a good idea to station a discipline-oriented Marine on a sniper-target watchtower with an obviously undisciplined, loosey-goosey Iraqi soldier?
THAT is the idiot who should be on trial.
If only we had a competent guy at the top.... You know, a Commander-in-Chief with a clue.
I feel sorry for any Marine that has to pull duty with a muzzie. I always think back to that group of Marine snipers that were killed (5 or 6) with not a trace of who did it.
I really think I'd of had an accidental discharge or pushed him out of the tower. Accidents happen all the time.
I've said it once and I'll say it a million times, there hasn't been one person I've ever met overseas worth one of my men, not one ever...no kid, woman, grandpa, young man...nobody. All my brothers trusted me with their lives and I trusted my life to them. I had no "friends" other than my brothers and I made it a point to be respectful and courteous but like the saying goes, "not friendly, with the warm and fuzzies"
You are not ever going to get an argument from me, stating otherwise.
All your bases belong to US!
“where he has been held in a brig since February.”
Holy Moly!
8 months before this went to trial?!?
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