Posted on 03/31/2005 5:38:45 AM PST by Former Military Chick
WIESBADEN, Germany -- A military court on Thursday found a U.S. Army tank company commander guilty of charges related to the shooting death of a wounded Iraqi last year.
Capt. Rogelio "Roger" Maynulet, a 30-year-old from Chicago, stood at attention as the verdict was read.
Maynulet told a military court in Germany he killed the unarmed man "to put him out of his misery," adding that it was "honorable." He maintained throughout his trial that he shot the man to end his suffering.
But the military court in Germany found him guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter. The panel will reconvene later Thursday to consider Maynulet's sentence. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison.
Maynulet's patrol wounded the man when it fired on a car during a search for militiamen south of Baghdad last May. Maynulet maintains the man was too badly injured to survive. He fired two more times.
Prosecutors said he violated rules of engagement. But Maynulet said he had more important priorities on the mission than saving the Iraqi man.
Military surveillance video apparently shows the U.S. soldier shooting a wounded Iraqi.
The shaky footage from a spy drone shows military Humvees chasing a car in a city south of Baghdad. After the car crashes, the camera zooms in on a man lying on the ground, waving one arm. The outline of a soldier in battle gear can then be seen aiming a weapon at the man, followed by a flash.
Fellow officers said at an earlier hearing that the tank company commander shot the man out of compassion, to ease his suffering.
I always thought the point was to kill the enemy.
Is it acceptable to mortally wound them and then leave them there?
What the heck, I guess it isn't legal unless accompanied by a court order.
He should have just withdrawn food and water--it's euphoric.
3:06
Capt. Roger Maynulet told a military court in Germany he killed the unarmed man "to put him out of his misery," adding that it was "honorable."
Maynulet's patrol wounded the man when it fired on a car during a search for militiamen south of Baghdad last May. Maynulet maintains the man was too badly injured to survive. He fired two more times.
The 30-year-old from Chicago is being tried on a charge of assault with intent to commit murder. Prosecutors said he violated rules of engagement. But Maynulet said he had more important priorities on the mission than saving the Iraqi man.
A six-member panel -- the equivalent of a civilian jury -- is hearing the case.
Earlier this week, a military court in Germany was shown surveillance video that apparently shows the U.S. soldier shooting a wounded Iraqi.
The shaky footage from a spy drone shows military humvees chasing a car in a city south of Baghdad. After the car crashes, the camera zoomed in on a man lying on the ground, waving one arm. The outline of a soldier in battle gear can then be seen aiming a weapon at the man, followed by a flash.
Fellow officers said at an earlier hearing that the tank company commander shot the man out of compassion, to ease his suffering.
Maynulet has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault with intent to commit murder.
His lawyer said the video doesn't show "the heat, dust and battle fatigue" Maynulet experienced that day.
Maynulet could face a maximum sentence of 20 years and three months if convicted of assault with intent to commit murder. After the trial opened, the judge tossed out a second charge of dereliction of duty.
Another soldier is accused of refusing to perform his duty as a mechanic. Spc. Blake Lemoine has argued his duties as an ordained pagan minister conflict with his Army job.
Complete BS from the JAG and the Military Court. The man is dying. PERIOD! Do you let him suffer like a dog that's been hit by a car and is dying? You would call the person ignoring the dying dog immoral for not putting the dog out of it's misery, but doing the same to a terrorist who was intent on killing YOU moments ago is a crime. Military PC is alive and well and will do nothing but harm to our troops.
Still, if this officer were taken before Judge Greer, he'd probably walk.
I do not think that a soldier should be prosecuted for this and I am surprised that a military court would convict him.
No, Judge Greer would convict him. Judge Greer probably has liberal anti-military bias.
True, and I wasn't trying to be facetious. At some point we (collectively) have to recognize that morals etc break down in these environments and there will be cases where things happen like this.
Remember, not every sociopath is a mind-numbed, knee-jerk, robot-like Liberal ~ some of them are off on their own thing.
I guess a break in the action is being interpreted by the prosecutors like the end of action in a football play. After play has ceased, any further action on the part of an offensive or defensive player is subject to penalty. (The "late hit" rule).
The Captain's problem was the pause in firing. He had time to think about it and perhaps remember the rules of engagement in a less heated environment. That pause seems to have moved his action from that of a continuous hot engagement to voluntary manslaughter.
They are treating soldiers like police officers - which is completely wrong. By temperment and training soldiers deal with violent situatiuons completely differently from police officers. The fact that both carry guns and were uniforms doesnot make them interchangeable.
I guess the rule is either let the man scream until he dies/passes out/medics come or just to never stop firing until you are sure they are all absoluely, positively, and reliably dead.
Besides, war really isn't supposed to be humane!
We need to keep war as horrible as possible to deter our enemies from thinking it's a good idea ~
Obviously, his biggest mistake was not to put Felos on his defense team. Felos would have explained the joys of dying, although surely being shot is not quite as euphoric as starving and dehydration.
Ridiculous verdict just to please the PC-Police.
You know, I just don't believe Felos. He's going to have to show me how good it is himself.
You know I understand the passion for Terri and her situation but come on folks this article is NOT about Terri. It is about a fine soldier who was doing his job and somehow got involved in a situation that now has rendered him guilty, not only facing a dishonorable discharge but years of confinement.
Not every thread has to be about Terri, does it?
I am frankly disappointed in my fellow Freepers for treating this man with such contempt.
We are at war. I have not read the entire court account, but, frankly from what I have read I can not understand why charges were brought against him.
OK, have at it slam me with your comments telling me I am unkind, not compassionate, rude, thoughtless, un American, oh feel free to toss in any other descriptions I may have missed.
To those who have shown at least interest and compassion for Capt. Rogelio "Roger" Maynulet, thank you. I do not have blinders on but there just be more to this case.
Also to those I have **PINGed** I have added your names for your compassion and prayerful nature. Many of you have shown me that even when we disagree we can with kindness. If the result of Cpt. Maynulet case anger's you as well let us let him know we are behind him until they can prove otherwise.
I am frankly a bit ashamed of my military justice system. But, I do have an open mind.
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