This case was UCI in spades, Chaplain.
UNLAWFUL COMMAND INFLUENCE
Unlawful Command Influence (UCI) has frequently been called the “mortal enemy of military justice.” UCI occurs when senior personnel, wittingly or unwittingly, have acted to influence court members, witnesses, or others participating in military justice cases. Such unlawful influence not only jeopardizes the validity of the judicial process, it undermines the morale of military members, their respect for the chain of command, and public confidence in the military.
http://usmilitary.about.com/library/weekly/aa103000d.htm
The truth is that someone needed to be railroaded, smooth, and the short straw fell on a 25 year old, first time in combat, buck sergeant who had just had a comrade killed by an IED.
The next kids’ story about bullies should tell the tale of Uncle Sam mercilessly beating a young man from Connecticut.
“Wuterich grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, and graduated from Orville H. Platt High School in 1998. He was well known as an honor student, jazz trumpet player, and drama club president. In his senior year of high school Wuterich enlisted in the Marine Corps”
In that position Wuterich would be railroaded, cheated out of years of his life, have his marriage stolen from him, and suffer the indignity of being portrayed as a mass murderer, a charge proven not to be true.