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I see the article in North County Times has been updated with info from the civilian defense attorney, David Sheldon.

Sheldon said he views the withdrawal of the criminal case a repudiation of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. He also said it was a clear rejection of the determination of the Marine Corps officer who presided over Phan's initial hearing and then recommended he be tried for three counts of assault, the false reporting and conduct unbecoming an officer.

The hearing officer, Lt. Col. William Pigott of Yuma, Ariz., will be back at Pendleton next week to preside over a hearing for a Marine officer charged with wrongdoing arising out of the slaying of two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005, an incident unrelated to the Hamdania homicide and assault cases.

That case involves another group of Pendleton Marines, and Pigott will conduct what is known as an Article 32 hearing for Capt. Randy Stone, a battalion legal officer accused of dereliction of duty in how he handled the initial reports of those deaths.

It’s going to be interesting to see if Lt. Col. Pigott will remain the hearing officer for Capt. Stone. If it turns out he isn’t it will be a good sign, IMO.

My man Sheldon! So glad he's also now part of the (extended) Haditha defense tea. Excellent and thanks for the update, Girl.

I'm only dismayed that the NC Times is the only media source in the country covering this case. The NCIS will try to ride out this storm and, with no oversight, has little to fear.