Marine acquitted of murder in Iraq slaying (Sgt. Ryan Weemer)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 4/9/09 | Elliot Spagat - ap

[NormsRevenge]

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. – A military jury has acquitted an Illinois Marine sergeant on charges of murdering an unarmed detainee during battle in Fallujah, Iraq.

The jury of eight Marines who served in Iraq or Afghanistan also acquitted Sgt. Ryan Weemer on Thursday of dereliction of duty in the November 2004 death.

[b4its2late]

Good

[dynachrome]

Norm’s got it up in breaking!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Murtha won’t be pleased......

[ErnBatavia]

Excellent news. Those two E-9’s vouching for him couldn’t have hurt.

[Deb]

Bless him.

[lilycicero]

Pre Ping

[lilylangtree]

This is wonderful! Great news!

[Red_Devil 232]

Fancy seeing you here :)

YES!

[DoughtyOne]

I’m glad he was found not guilty.

[Girlene]

WOW. CONGRATULATIONS SGT. RYAN WEEMER!!!

[reefdiver]

F murtha and zer0. Give that Marine a steak dinner on His Country

[Liberty Valance]

Thank you Lord!

[Cheetahcat]

Oh Yes Thank God!

[lilycicero]

It’s my favorite hang out!!!

Way to go!

[nahanrac]

I’m happy. That is wonderful. I can’t imagine how relieved he and his family are feeling right now!

[bonehead4freedom]

In the age of Obamanation sometimes common sense can prevail!Awesome verdict!Now stop these bs pc prosecutions.

[NoLibZone]

Great News!

This will upset the ObamaNation.

[avacado]

"Marine acquitted of murder in Iraq slaying"

Well if he was aquitted then it wasn't a frikin SLAYING now was it AP!

[VA_Gentleman]

Another American hero exonerated!

[Obamageddon]

Justice served. Now restore all rank, pay, and duty status.
Semper Fi.

[pissant]

Thank you, Lord

[lilycicero]

You can imaagine and you are very gracious. It is a celebrated day for his family.

[Gator113]

Thank God Almighty.

Now, tell me why that traitor Murtha isn’t in prison, at the very least.

[devildogdad]

We are feeling great!

We also want to thank all Freepers for their thoughts and prayers throughout this long hard year!

[Girlene]

Yes, now Sgt. Weemer and his wife can get back to their lives.

[freeangel]

WAHOOO! Good guy bump!

[smoothsailing]

WOO-HOO!!!! Fantastic!

[jazusamo]

Outstanding! God Bless Sgt. Weemer and his family!

Thanks for posting, Norm.

[4Godsoloved..Hegave]

Praise be to God!!

[ticked]

GREAT news!!!!!!

[jazusamo]

Thank you, Lord

Amen to that!

[Girlene]

A little more info from San Diego Union Tribune, Marine acquitted in killing of Fallujah captive

"The eight-member panel of Marine officers found Sgt. Ryan Weemer not guilty on all charges against him – unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. The jurors had deliberated for about 6½ hours starting Wednesday afternoon.

Before the verdict was read in a Camp Pendleton courtroom, Weemer's wife, sister and a former teacher held hands while sitting behind him. They started crying upon hearing “not guilty.”

Gasps could be heard, and some Marines sitting in the back of the courtroom bumped knuckles in a sign of congratulations.

Weemer's lead attorney, Paul Hackett, hugged his client. Weemer remained stoic throughout the proceeding.

The acquittal may spell doom for the government's case against the third and final defendant in this Fallujah case. Weemer and former Sgt. Jose Nazario Jr. have been cleared of charges that they shot to death unarmed detainees found in a house Nov. 9, 2004.

Awaiting court-martial is Sgt. Jermaine Nelson, but the allegations against him are basically identical to those made against Weemer.

During closing statements Wednesday, the prosecution had asked the Weemer jury to return with a murder conviction. But it also seemed willing to accept a lesser finding of voluntary manslaughter or even assault with a deadly weapon.

Prosecutor Capt. Nick Gannon told the jury that “Today, you are the conscience of the Marine Corps. We have to follow the rules.”

He also said if the jurors find it difficult to convict Weemer of murder because investigators didn't recover the captive's body, they should consider Weemer guilty of voluntary manslaughter or perhaps assault with a deadly weapon. "........[More at link]

[debm29palms]

I don’t know if you were pinged here already...........

[Cicero]

Thank God.

[radar101]

LCPL SCHMIDT said:
I served with SGT Jermaine Nelson in KILO 3/1 a year prior and up to and including OIF 1. During which time I got to know him well. Our UNITED STATES MARINES are sent to a country that is lawless and asked to deliver peace in split second decisions. They can be looked back upon and tore down and what if’d until hell freezes over. Unfortunately we do not have that kind of time in combat. Infantry Marines are trained to the brink to assess, identify and come up with a solution faster than it takes most people to blink. Our Marines in IRAQ do a job that most of you have forgotten and that they never will forget! There are cowards in our own government that want to punish our Marines for making those LIFE CHANGING split second decisions knowing full well that they themselves do not have the intestinal fortitude to make. That is just plan UNAMERICAN. There is no way in hell that SGT Nelson or any of those other Marines would ever KILL IN COLD BLOOD. SIMPER FI “KILO” THUNDERING 3rd

12:18 AM MST on Sat., Oct. 11, 2008 re: “Attorneys: Marine’s delayed court-martial is ploy”

Bryan said:
Ryan Weemer is my cousin, so stupid does not come to mind when i hear his name. He was salutatorian of his class, capt. of his football team, basketball team and one hell of a track star. He was really someone i looked up to in my life and now more than ever. That took more courage than i could ever have. So to all the american heros THANK YOU, and to my cousin Ryan Love u man.

4:37 PM MST on Thu., Aug. 28, 2008 re: “Federal jury acquits ex-Marine in Iraqis’ deaths”

Bay Area Taxpayer said:
Nice to hear the correct verdict for a change.

9:17 AM MST on Thu., Aug. 28, 2008 re: “Jury deciding fate of ex-Marine in Iraq deaths”

E. L. Mercon said:
This is pure crap. Who is his accuser? Who says he shot these people? Or, caused them to be shot? If he is in an American court, with American Jurors, HE HAS A RIGHT TO BE FACED BY HIS ACCUSER...anything else is against his constitutional rights.

6:58 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 13, 2008 re: “Marine ordered to stand trial in Fallujah killings”

Examiner Reader said:
It is easy to stop all the wars in the middle east, including the war in Iraq. Just convert the United States to islam!!!! Then we can bring our islamic armies home. Then we can bring our islamic airplanes home. Sharia Law will rule our land and we will be observant of the new rules. We will burn the Constitution and our koran will be the law. We will remove and destroy all monuments in the District of Columbia and in all parts of our land. We will yield all churches and synagogues to islam to convert to mosques. We will remove the President and an iman will take over rule. We will dissolve Congress and recognize new islamic councils. All holidays will be removed and a calender faithful to mohammed will be used. Our schools will be reorganized for boys and men only. Girls and women will remain at home until authorized otherwise. Infractions of the law of the koran will be dealt with by lashing or beheading.

8:41 AM MST on Mon., Jun. 16, 2008 re: “Marine in Iraq case jailed for refusing grand jury testimony”

Examiner Reader said:
As a mother of an Marine I say “All of you who are doing this to our boys Go To HEll!!! You take these boys and turn them in fighting men. These boys do only what they are trained and told to do by their commanders.These boys are scared for their lives and their boys. Why should these boys the ones that make it home pay for the mistakes of higher ranks decisions. The Military took what happiness these young men could have had and made their life a living hell, I know because as a mother I’m living it everyday, not knowning if my son will snap and do something stupid. You see the military sent him home with PTSD. This young man fought for his country,and now The U.S. of America wants him and others like him to pay with thier lives for Mr. Bush’s decision of WAR. Why is the Military putting these parents and family members AGAIN in pain? GIVE THEM BACK THIER LIFE

[bigheadfred]

Congratulations! Hugs and high fives all around!

[EDINVA]

Not really surprised but disgusted that the USMC put Weemer and the others through this. It’s a helluva recruitment tool.

Is there any recourse for any of these Marines for an improper prosecution ? Where DO they go to get their reputations back?

[devildogdad]

Thank you, and God Bless!

[Girlene]

Well, Congratulations, Devildogdad!!!!

[xzins]

Congrats, DDD. Pass them on to Sgt Weemer & the family for us. I never believed it happened, and I absolutely never believed he was guilty.

I’ve been reminded of a great lesson about speaking to the government in all of this. The answer: never do it.

[Lancey Howard]

AWESOME NEWS!

WOW!!

[Red Steel]

Is there any recourse for any of these Marines for an improper prosecution ? Where DO they go to get their reputations back?

Sue Murtha.

[Arguendo]

Well if he was aquitted then it wasn't a frikin SLAYING now was it AP!

Uh, there's no question he killed the guy. The question was whether it was murder or not. You might want to try reading the article.

[devildogdad]

Thank You Girlene!

I have seen you on the posts as I lurked here this past year. Thank you for your support!

[wastedyears]

Has anybody else noticed the pattern of Marines being found not guilty?

[devildogdad]

Thank you! I will be sure and pass the word.

It is people like you and the rest of the TRUE Freepers, that kept us going through this long ordeal.

[lilycicero]

Admit it...you are soooooooo blushing right now :)

[Girlene]

You're welcome, Devildogdad! For the record, here's the latest from North County Times, MILITARY: Marine acquitted on all counts

I hope that the military decides to drop the charges against Sgt. Jermaine Nelson after this acquittal. From reading the San Diego article, it was obvious the prosecutor, Gannon, knew that murder charges were a real stretch here. Hopefully, the military will realize this has gone on long enough. Drop those charges against the last man standing!

[ticked]

Congratulations, devildogdad, and please give your son a huge hug and thank him for his service for me!

All the best to your son, you, and your family as you move on now.

This is a very happy day!!!!