“What is there to discuss? He admits he did it. Go back to the jury room, order a couple of pizzas, have lunch and them come back with the verdict.”
My thoughts exactly.
Here’s why: if they did that, even basing it on his admissions, those admissions weren’t under oath and are not evidence. I guarantee the appellate defense counsel (appeal is mandatory with any punitive discharge or dismissal) will say, “He didn’t get due process! What, they listened to HIM? He’s NUTS!” And the court might just buy it.
No, they need to deliberate in the most serious sense of the word, so there will be nothing the court martial panel did, or failed to do, that will allow this scum to avoid the maximum penalty for his heinous conduct.
Colonel, USAFR