Posted on 06/01/2006 7:53:01 PM PDT by kristinn
Criminal investigators are hoping to exhume the bodies of several Iraqi civilians allegedly gunned down by a group of U.S. Marines last year in the city of Haditha, aiming to recover potentially important forensic evidence, according to defense officials familiar with the investigation.
A source close to the inquiry said Naval Criminal Investigative Service officials have interviewed families of the dead several times and have visited the homes where the shootings allegedly occurred to collect as much evidence as possible. Exhuming the bodies could help investigators determine the distance at which shots were fired, the caliber of the bullets and the angles of the shots, possibly crucial details in determining how events unfolded and who might have been involved.
SNIP
"I think it's going to be a very difficult case for them to prove," said Vaughan Taylor, a former military prosecutor and instructor in criminal law at the Army's Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. On balance, he said, he would rather be a defense counsel in the case than prosecute for the government.
"I think there's plenty of avenues for defense in this case -- the fact that it wasn't initially investigated, the fact that there's been plenty of time for witnesses to play with stories. There's a lot of wiggle room in there."
The gap between the incident and the beginning of the NCIS investigation is going to cause major problems in prosecuting any charges, a Marine officer familiar with the case agreed. "They have huge proof problems," he said, citing the lack of identified bodies.
"The long and the short of it is, until they prove the cause of death," they don't have anything, said one civilian defense lawyer representing a Kilo Company Marine. "Photographs won't be enough to do it. Good luck with that."
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Let's hope this proves our Marines are innocent.
"The long and the short of it is, until they prove the cause of death," they don't have anything,
Really quite simple isn't it?
How can there be holes in the case? John Murtha said they were guilty.
Don't forget, one of the fundamental principles of Islam is that it is always ok to tell a lie if it brings down the enemy.
I'm stunned that they've been investigating this for TWO MONTHS and are only now looking to exhume the bodies. (And how will they be able to prove those bodies are the ones which were "massacred"?)
2- Even if they are shown to be shot by 5.56 Lake City at close range, 'insurgents' have this too. Not conclusive.
3- Remember that one of the 'journalists' who collected and presented statements was jailed for 5 months by US forces as a security risk.
4- Remember that good Muslims execute families every day for as little as wearing shorts or being the wrong kind of Muslim. This fits the pattern.
5- To blame an 'atrocity' on the infidels is expected and part of the playbook. It doesn't have to be proveable. Just get it out to TIME and Al Jazeera.
Excellent question. They will probably okay bodies of terrorists that were indeed killed by American bullets, and claim they are the correct bodies. Who would know?
And ex-marine John Murtha
forget that, no bodies of adult males need to be exhumed.
they claimed our Marines shot down unarmed women and children - dig up women and children for autopsies.
Prayers for our Marines.
"Don't forget, one of the fundamental principles of Islam is that it is always ok to tell a lie if it brings down the enemy."
Islam, Rats, what's the dif?
"...killing 15 unarmed Iraqis in their homes, including seven women and three children."
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1174649,00.html
Ping - (and have you heard who the doctor was who cited these injuries and gunshots at close range?? -Hmm, an individual who was arrested a month earlier - (and who clearly could have an axe to grind with U.S. forces in the area).
Haditha Doctor Was Arrested, Hates US Too
/Sweetness & Light ^ | June 1, 2006 | N/A>Posted on 06/01/2006 6:44:37 PM PDT by Sam Hill/
So far, the only indiscriminate weaponry fired re this case has been 'Murtha's mouth. . .and that of the MSM who are firing in every direction. . .
It would seem so.
Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR is on Tucker Carlson right now...and CAIR is saying that Rummy needs to resign immediately because of this incident...
Riiiiiiiight....
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