Marine reservist accused of attacking Greek priest

E-news (AP) ^ | Nov 10, 2009 | Matt Sedensky

[awake-n-angry]

TAMPA, Florida - A Marine reservist accused of attacking a Greek Orthodox priest with a tire iron after apparently calling him a terrorist and a robber now says he was sexually attacked by the cleric, his defense attorney said Tuesday.

Jeff Brown said Lance Cpl. Jasen Bruce, 28, had been followed into the parking garage of his Tampa apartment building about 6:30 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Alexios Marakis, who then made sexual comments and grabbed the reservist's genitals. Brown denounced the Tampa Police Department's account of the incident as "one-sided" and "tainted."

"We are confident that the surveillance videos, the long 911 call, the eyewitnesses will all conclusively show that Lance Cpl. Bruce was attacked and was the victim in this case," Brown said.

But the Tampa Police report offered a far different account, saying Marakis was lost when he followed Bruce into the garage and asked for help, then was struck with the tire iron and chased several blocks. When officers arrived, Bruce called Marakis a terrorist and said the priest had shouted "Allahu akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great."

[awake-n-angry]

I hope that this young man speaks to an attorney before he says one more word. Anything he says is going to be blown up.

[toldyou]

Uh...if you read the very first sentence of the article, you’ll see he already has an attorney.

Anyhow someone beat you to this story...thread here...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2383379/posts

[No Longer Free State]

I bet the USMC doesn’t apologize for this idiot the way the Army did for their Ryan Secrest stalker.

[awake-n-angry]

Searched “Marine Reservist” and nothing came up. He should have spoken to his attorney before he told the police on the scene three different stories.

Although a young Marine makes a pretty good client and witness, a bloody priest can make a pretty convincing victim.

[PetroniusMaximus]

Pre Post Stress Disorder again.

[buwaya]

Why am I thinking that this a perfect subject for a comedy skit ?

Monty Python would have hit this one out of the park.

[toldyou]

“Although a young Marine makes a pretty good client and witness...”

Not this one.

[awake-n-angry]

“Why am I thinking that this a perfect subject for a comedy skit ?

Monty Python would have hit this one out of the park.”
__________

OMG, didn’t think about it, but you are right!!!

[sionnsar]

A Marine reservist accused of attacking a Greek Orthodox priest with a tire iron after apparently calling him a terrorist and a robber now says he was sexually attacked by the cleric, his defense attorney said Tuesday.
....
But the Tampa Police report offered a far different account, saying Marakis was lost when he followed Bruce into the garage and asked for help, then was struck with the tire iron and chased several blocks. When officers arrived, Bruce called Marakis a terrorist and said the priest had shouted "Allahu akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great."

It is REALLY difficult for me to imagine a Greek Orthodox priest shouting "Allahu akbar!" - Arabic for "God is great" under any circumstances... but I call in the experts.

[awake-n-angry]

I agree with you. This Marine should have exercised his right to remain silent, or at least given some thought to his story.

[Kolokotronis]

“It is REALLY difficult for me to imagine a Greek Orthodox priest shouting “Allahu akbar!” - Arabic for “God is great” under any circumstances... but I call in the experts.”

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...NO!

[toldyou]

Did you hear the latest?

This punk has never been to Iraq or Afghanistan.
He poses for a gay/porn site
He’s the manager of a pharmacy that promotes steroids...

News video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCI6H46Dypw

Updated article and comments follow:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/article1050707.ece

[eleni121]

Thank you for the update.

Prayers for the priest...and for the young man who seems lost.