Posted on 12/19/2007 7:58:52 PM PST by RedRover
EDMOND — The attorney for Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum of Edmond is asking a military court to order a Congressman to answer questions about comments he made accusing Marines of murdering Iraqi civilians.
Tatum’s attorney, Jack Zimmerman, contended during a pre-trial hearing Wednesday that charges against Tatum might have come as a result of pressure from Marine Corps brass.
Tatum, 26, is facing involuntary manslaughter charges in the November 2005 shooting deaths of two children in Haditha, Iraq. He also is charged with aggravated assault and reckless endangerment. If convicted Tatum could face up to 19 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge.
U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., a former Marine, is on record as saying he had heard from Marine Corps officials that innocent Iraqis had been killed “in cold blood.”
Zimmerman said he plans to ask the judge to dismiss the case, based on his belief that Tatum will not get a fair trial.
He contends that potential jury members might have been influenced by comments implying the accused Marines are guilty.
Zimmerman also wants the judge to force Tatum’s former battalion commander, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, to testify at Tatum’s trial in March.
Sounds good to me.
48% of Americans think Iraq “going well”
[that figure now includes Murtha]
Rooters | 12/19/07 | David Morgan
Posted on 12/19/2007 7:33:48 PM EST by Fido969
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1942005/posts
Where the he...ck were these bass...turds LAST YEAR to "help" Diana Irey?!?!
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