Posted on 04/25/2005 6:50:25 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
FORT RUCKER, Ala. (AP) - An Army officer accused of stalking a former New Jersey National Guard soldier for days and then raping her in her barracks room went on trial in a military court Monday.
First Lt. Mike Hall is accused of raping Jennifer Dyer last August at Camp Shelby, near Hattiesburg, Miss. ``He refused to take `no' for an answer,'' said prosecutor Capt. Jeffrey Dodson.
But defense attorney Victor Kelley said Dyer, also a first lieutenant at the time, made up the allegation to get out of the Army and avoid duty in Iraq. He questioned why she did not scream for help at the time, or ask for help later when she got a cell phone call from her supervisor.
Hall, 35, of Nashville, Tenn., contends the sex was consensual.
Dyer, 26, testified Monday that she and Hall left the officers club separately, and he followed her back to the barracks about 12:30 a.m. She said he tried to kiss and grope her in the barracks hallway.
``He approached me and told me he was tired of me saying 'No,''' Dyer testified.
She said Hall then forced his way into her barracks room, a few doors from his. She said he pulled off her clothes and raped her twice within an hour while she begged him to stop.
Asked why she didn't scream, she replied: ``I couldn't raise my voice. I was so tired from pushing him away.''
Asked why she didn't request help when she got the cell phone call, she said, ``Lieutenant Hall was still in my room and I was afraid of what he might do.''
She testified that she went to her supervisor's room immediately after Hall left and reported the rape.
During cross-examination, the defense attorney focused on Dyer's attempt to resign from the Army in November 2003.
Kelley said she missed her unit's deployment to Iraq because she did not return to Camp Shelby after the end of two weeks of convalescent leave following the rape claim.
``She's using her false allegations as a conduit to get out of her obligation,'' Kelley said.
He said Dyer renewed her resignation request in December 2004 and was granted an honorable discharge backdated to Aug. 31, 2004.
Dyer has said she went public with her allegations on CBS's ``60 Minutes'' because Army investigators doubted her story. She testified that she was treated at a hospital and sequestered in a hotel for two days without access to a telephone.
Army Special Agent Eric Barreras, who led the investigation, testified Monday that Dyer's allegations ``did not add up'' at first, but later evidence supported the charges, including an analysis of Dyer's clothing that showed they were torn off.
Hall has opted for a non-jury trial. A military judge will issue a verdict. There is no minimum sentence for a rape conviction listed in the military code of justice.
Dyer has since married and returned to work in a county sheriff's department in New Jersey.
Well, hopefully we'll get to the truth of this little matter, finally.
Add me to the ping list, please; I'm curious to see how this progresses.
This woman is a liar and a fraud. And now, she's carrying a gun around kids.
I am down here at Camp Shelby, since january for mobilization. This "incident" was the talk of the post. The EO Nazis - every one of them female - tried to use this as an example of what to do to male soldiers.
One brave lady O-5 who was retiring spoke up. She started in on her fellows, demanding to hear both sides. The EO Nazis shut up.
There's more to this than the Left wants us to know.
The Military court system is guilty until proven innocent.
It is an unfortunate truth that rape cases nearly always favor the accuser, even with all of the talk about a woman's past being drawn into the case, nearly all defendants accused of rape are convicted and in cases of "acquaintance" (date) rape there is generally no conclusive evidence -- it is just two versions of a story that a jury must weigh.
If Dyer is telling the truth, her actions seem to me to be very inconsistent with a typical rape victim. "60 Minutes" is committed to undermining President Bush, the War on Terror and the US Military -- and if it is necessary to destroy the lives and careers of one or more offices, then so be it. Even when a rape defendant is found not guilty, unless there is conclusive proof of his innocense, people will always assume he is guilty. Hall may or may not be guilty of rape, but either way his career is ruined and this episode will haunt him for life.
Hey chick, I meant to add ALL to my post. Hey let me ask you this..arent there cameras in the hallways in the barracks for safety reasons???
Please add me to the ping list.
Please add me to the ping list.
You didn't get it, so I have to explain.
She didn't want to go to war, so she started whoring around - it was all over the press down here, and God I wish I had the links to show you. The sum of her activities can be best described as Conduct Unbecoming An Officer.
And she tried to take down another officer with her. Typical blame-someone-else-for-my-misdeeds.
Hey Sarge..wanna hear something disturbing?? There is a popular production company actively pursuing a production/distribution outlet for a reality based show (not scripted) about military legal issues. What cha think about that????
For those who would like a bit more background, this link is quite informative of the events as it came to trial.
I would have condescendingly snickered at your Victorian attitude toward extra-marital sex by guys even a few years ago. But guess what? You're right spot on.
Now this is coming from one of the greatest swordsmen (if judged by numbers and not necessarily quality) of all time.
I'll be 60 toward the end of this year and marvel that my other persona never got me into the type of trouble that this LT finds himself in. Or for that matter, any other trouble such as disease, etc.
This will hit many as extreme, but this is a risk any man takes when having sex outside of marriage.
Why can't we keep our privates in our pants, guys, until marriage?
Probably for the same reason some women can't keep their pants on until marriage.
That's not the issue here anyway. This woman is a fraud and she is bent on destroying this man.
Old Sarge is speaking the truth on this one, and I am going back to my archives of threads I posted on FR. She lacks credibility and while I do not know all the facts, her story just does not ring true.
She has the help of left leaning organizations, which is fine but I am skeptical.
She deserves her day in court to prove her allegations, should he be found guilty then the punishment stiff if during the trial, other facts we have not heard that would lead us to her truthfulness then she should have to face the consequences.
It is always tough for me to question a rape victim. I take no pleasure in it, but, I am sure many of you know that gut feeling you get, well I have it on this one.
Happy to add you.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.