Amir Alkaysey: Translator for Iraqi civilian interviews, taped 23 January 2006 at Haditha, Iraq.
LCpl John Casiday: Member of the second QRF that arrived on the scene of the IED blast at approximately 1300. LCpl Casiday provided two statements to NCIS, recalling a long conversation with LCpl Sharratt a few hours after the incident. Currently inactive.
Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz: Uncharged member of the 3/1.
LCpl Trent Graviss: A-Driver for Vehicle # 3 in the 1st Squad convoy the morning of the incident. Currently inactive.
2ndLt William Kallop: First officer on the scene in Haditha, shortly after the IED explosion. Ordered Marines to clear houses in the vicinity.
SSgt Justin Laughner: One of two HET assets assigned to Kilo Co., 3/1 on 19 November 2005.
LCpl James Prentice: Uncharged member of the 3/1. Currently deployed in Iraq.
Sgt Hector Salinas: Uncharged member of the 3/1. Present during every significant action on 19 November 2005.
LCpl Maximillion Schaal: On R&R at Haditha Dam on November 19. Overheard converations a week after the incident which NCIS believed would clarify other testimony extracted from Kilo Co. Marines.
HN Brian Whitt: Corpsman on temporary assignment to 3rd Platoon the morning of 19 November 2005. He rode in the rear of Vehicle # 3. After the IED explosion, he took cover and fired at an individual to the North of the blast area. Thereafter, he was able to attend to the wounded. While he was assisting LCpl Crossan and LCpl Guzman, he could still hear AK-47 and M16 fire and at least one M203 round go off. HN Whitt rode with the team out to the LZ to transport the wounded and never returned to the IED site that day.
LCpl Andrew Wright: Uncharged member of the 3/1. Currently receiving medical treatment in California.
SSgt Frank Wuterich: Co-accused.
Some items I gleaned from it:
Although I suspect LCpl Sharratt has not been entirely truthful concerning all the events on 19 November 2005, the statements submitted by the government are rife with rumors, hearsay within hearsay, and unclear, confusing and often inadmissible opinions.
I wonder if this is because LCpl Sharratt elected (with his attorney's instructions) to provide an Unsworn statement instead of a Sworn statement to the Court and the charges? As I understand, had he given a Sworn statement, he would have been available for cross-examination, and no attorney will willingly agree to that.
In contrast, LCpl Sharratt's version of events is fully supported by the independent scientific evidence.
I find this a little incongruous compared with the statement above.
It is not as simple as stating there are two accounts so a trial is necessary. Analysis of these two versions must provide reasonable grounds that the Government version of events may be true.
The real intelligence was left behind when NCIS left the US for Iraq. Their lack of basic investigation and of follow-up is appalling.
LCpl Sharratt's actions were in accord with the rules of engagement and use of force.I am very disgusted by the Administration's use of our Military as a World Police Agency. (By the way, that is any and all admins, not just this one!) Warriors break things and kill -- as they are trained and expected to do. It's long past time we cleared out the One World UN mindset from our government, and kick the UN to the curb while we're at it.