Posted on 09/09/2007 2:55:08 PM PDT by RedRover
Related threads: Parents say (Army) son rejects plea deal in Iraq killings, is innocent and Grassroots effort gets renowned defense team onboard in Iskandariyah case.
This is a grassroots effort to spread the word about Sgt Vela's case. Please ping any Idaho or Ranger Freepers you know or anyone else who might take an interest.
Thank you.
Legal problems. You can fight the murder charge on the basis that the service member thought he was being attacked by the Iraqi male. Just that is a hard case for gmvt to prove.
Problem is, it is easier to prove the planting of a weapon charge. He did or he didn’t. There is no “self defense” or “thought he was an enemy” defense to the planting a weapon charge.
Once they establish the planting a weapon charge, if they do, then it makes the defense against the murder charge much more difficult, because it is harder to establish that you thought it was a good kill if you thought you had to plant a weapon, etc.
The false official statement and OJ charges are not serious, and probably simply lesser included offenses, but the planting the weapon charge, if sustained, is a problem for what it implies downline
I don’t understand why they haven’t all been pulled home and put in jail. That’s what the enemy wants, inside AND outside this country.
You are correct. This is the key charge. If proven, it will undercut Sgt. Vela's defense of justified homicide.
Prayers that justice prevails.
BUMP! for assistance for Sgt. Vela and his family.
Why would any trials for premeditated murder be held in Baghdad? This is pretty serious. I still cannot understand why more resources aren’t afforded each military person accused of a crime, especially one that holds such a high penalty. Prayers for a family in need.
Most important point, as usual, Girl. It is unfathomable that the defense is required to fly in. Unfreakenbelievable.
Oh, silly me. He’s given a defense attorney on site. I’m sure that’s sufficient. I’ll put the ol’ “/sarc” tag up, just in case anyone thinks I might be remotely serious.
I’ve totally given up on this sorry ass Administration. Persecution of servicemen in a PC War is the rule of the day. The Terorists must be laughing out loud at our sheer stupidity.
My nephew just got back from Iraq. He’s a mature Staff Sergeant about to be promoted to E-7 and he says the “rules” are a joke.
He also says that the Muzzies, even the ones ostensibly on our side, are totally unsuited for Democracy and is also of the opinion that if we defeat Al Qaida we should make a pretty quick exit. Otherwise the non Al Quadi Insurgents helping us now will joyfully turn on us again in order to drive us “Infidels” from their “sacred” Muzzie soil.
Back in the 20s, a junior associate from a Wall Street firm won a case in California.
He send a telegram to the Senior Partner. It said
“Justice Has Prevailed!” (signed) William Jones
The Senior Partner immediately wired back:
“Jones; Do not wait. File appeal today!
Rover, keep me pinged on this. I seem to have missed it up till now.
You got it.
Thanks.
Wonder what blabber mouths from the dirty world of politics/LMSM will try to prove this Soldier guilty before the facts come out.
My sentiments exactly.
Thanks for the ping, Red; seems I missed this one on the first go-round.
Jeff, I am taking the liberty of pinging you for this; seems one of your State’s families is getting shafted by our socialists in the DoD. From what I’ve learned following the Haditha cases, our Military has no problem throwing our warriors under the bus for political expediency. Anything you can do to ping others and help Sgt. Vela get a just and fair hearing would be appreciated; thank you.
This is an unusual charge. American troops are not issued soviet-style AK47 rifles, the kind used by insurgents. One has to come up with a source of AK47s for these soldiers who've been charged.
Did they carry around AK47s just for the purpose of planting them? If so, then they were keeping battlefield contraband which is against regs. Carrying them around is unlikely because they'd be punished for it.
The logical conclusion is that these weapons most likely came from the battlefield where the dead men were found.
It's also highly likely that the soldiers who were charged with "planting" weapons were simply assigning to the deceased Iraqis, the weapon they most likely had been using in the fight with the Americans. Given that American troops are debriefed after each operation and they are asked to go over all the details of the battle, then it is likely that they were reconstructing the scene of the fight by putting all the pieces of it together so they could report it back to their unit.
Did they carry around AK47s just for the purpose of planting them?
Ever hear the word classified in an operation, maybe there is some reason the military wants to keep this in iraq.
The lawyers are trying hard to get the article 32 reinstated.
My bro is flying to Denver to get his passport, can anybody guess where he gets to go?
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