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Haditha hearing officer has more work ahead
North County Times ^ | July 11, 2007 | Mark Walker

Posted on 07/12/2007 10:31:42 AM PDT by jazusamo

CAMP PENDLETON -- The military hearing officer who has recommended murder charges be dropped against one of three Marines charged in the 2005 slaying of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha will also preside over hearings for the other two.

Lt. Col. Paul J. Ware's knowledge of the case and the manner in which he conducted a recent hearing for Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt could help their clients, attorneys for the remaining two defendants said Wednesday.

In a report released Tuesday, Ware cited self-defense and insufficient evidence in recommending that three murder charges against Sharratt be dropped.

Proceeding to trial without a strong case would set a dangerous precedent and could affect the actions of Marines in Iraq today, Ware wrote.

Ware, the senior military judge at the Marine base in Hawaii, also has been designated as the hearing officer for the case against Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, whose Article 32 hearing gets under way Monday. Article 32 hearings are akin to civilian probable-cause hearings and determine if sufficient evidence exists to warrant trial.

Tatum is charged with two counts of unpremeditated murder and four counts of negligent homicide.

Ware also is scheduled to preside over the hearing for Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the man who led the assault in Haditha. Wuterich faces 13 counts of unpremeditated murder and two counts of soliciting another to commit an offense.

One of the 13 murder counts against Wuterich is for shooting the fourth man inside the home after Sharratt had emptied a 9 mm pistol.

Neither man disputes taking part in the shootings, and each contends he was responding to a threat.

Wuterich's lead attorney Neal Puckett said Ware's recommendation in the Sharratt case was a good sign for his client.

"It does generally bode well for the notion that at least we can expect a full and fair hearing," Puckett said.

Tatum's attorney Jack Zimmerman said he was impressed with Ware after watching the Sharratt hearing.

"He asks cogent questions, and he gets right to the point," Zimmerman said. "I was encouraged by the fair way he conducted the hearing."

Former Marine attorney and judge Gary Solis, a widely recognized military law authority, said he did not believe Ware's recommendation in the Sharratt case will have any direct impact on the Wuterich and Tatum cases.

"Having been a military judge, I know that it is possible for an experienced judge to ignore the elephant in the room," Solis said. "Each case will get considered on its individual merits."

After reading Ware's report, Solis said he was impressed with the reasoning and conclusions.

"He's very firm, straightforward and clear," Solis said, adding that he expects Camp Pendleton's Lt. Gen. James Mattis to follow the recommendation.

The Haditha killings resulted in charges against eight Kilo Company men from Camp Pendleton's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment known as the "Thundering Third."

Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz was charged with five counts of murder, but charges against him were dropped in exchange for his testimony against the other defendants.

Four battalion officers were charged with dereliction of duty for failing to fully investigate and report the incident.

A hearing officer who heard the evidence against one of those officers, Capt. Randy Stone, recommended his case be handled administratively and not proceed to trial.

Col. Christopher Conlin, an infantry officer who presided over the hearing earlier this year for the battalion commander at Haditha, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, is recommending he face trial, saying he failed to carry out his responsibilities.

The Sharratt case

In his report on Sharratt, Ware concluded that his killing three of four Iraqi brothers inside a bedroom was justified. He said Sharratt's decision to open fire was within the rules of engagement because two of the men were holding AK-47 assault rifles.

"To believe the government's version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and its mission in Iraq," Ware wrote. "Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy."

He also said that statements taken in Iraq from relatives of the slain brothers alleging that the men were marched into a room and executed by Sharratt and Wuterich were wholly inconsistent with physical evidence collected by agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

In recommending the charges be dropped, Ware also called for the Marine Corps to grant Sharratt immunity to testify at other hearings.

A final decision on what happens to Sharratt will come from Mattis, who is the convening authority as head of Marine Corps forces in the Middle East and commander of the base's I Marine Expeditionary Force.

Mattis has followed hearing officer recommendations in similar cases.


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: defendourmarines; haditha; marines; pendleton; wot
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1 posted on 07/12/2007 10:31:45 AM PDT by jazusamo
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To: 4woodenboats; aculeus; American Cabalist; AmericanYankee; AndrewWalden; Antoninus; AliVeritas; ...
HADITHA MARINES PING!

2 posted on 07/12/2007 10:33:30 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: All
If you would like to help with the civilian lawyer’s legal fees for the
Haditha Marines you can do so by going to these sites.

Defend Our Marines

Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt

SSgt. Frank Wuterich

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani

Military Combat Defense Fund


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

3 posted on 07/12/2007 10:36:42 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

MURTHA HAS TO PAY


4 posted on 07/12/2007 10:37:13 AM PDT by bybybill (HUNT RINOS IN THE PRIMARIES, SKIN RATS IN THE FALL)
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To: jazusamo

Free the Pendleton 8!!!!!!


5 posted on 07/12/2007 10:39:04 AM PDT by TBP
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To: bybybill

Yes! Murtha won’t come out from under his desk right now but things are going to get hot for him.


6 posted on 07/12/2007 10:40:48 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: TBP

Bump!


7 posted on 07/12/2007 10:41:22 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

Thank God they got the same hearing officer...level headed and cares about the Marines and the Corps.

Cindie


8 posted on 07/12/2007 11:13:43 AM PDT by gardencatz (Your son might be an honor student, but mine's a US Marine...it can't always be someone else's son!)
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To: gardencatz

You’re right, at least we know he’s fair, has no political agenda and cares deeply for the Marines and the Corps.


9 posted on 07/12/2007 11:25:58 AM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo

Hey Jaz,thanks for this report!!!!!!!!!!!!.......


10 posted on 07/12/2007 11:33:05 AM PDT by GitmoSailor (AZ Cold War Vet===Fairness Doctrine for TV First!!!!!.....I'Am With Fred)
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To: jazusamo
This is excellent news! SSGT Wuterich and Lance Cpl. Tatum will be well served to have an IO who is up on the case, familiar with the NCIS agents work, and doesn't show a particular interest to politically please the Iraqis.

After reading the IO's report for Sharratt's hearing, it seemed that Lt. Col. Ware was able to cut through a lot of extraneous items and focus on the necessary details and pertinent witnesses in this case. His report was quite straightforward and had a logical flow.

He even recommended that charges be changed to premeditated murder if the case went to trial. His logic was that the NCIS version of events indicated they believed Sharratt had premeditatedly murdered the Iraqis. IOW, they shouldn't try to convict Sharratt on unpremeditated murder when they were claiming premeditation. Smart guy - forcing the prosecutors' hands in case it goes to trial. Premeditated murder would be harder to convict. Might be a good reason to have a lawyer/judge handling these cases. (Versus Conlin, the IO for Chessani's hearing who is not a lawyer.)
11 posted on 07/12/2007 12:11:13 PM PDT by Girlene
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To: jazusamo

They will all be cleared.
Bring up charges on Turda for Treason.

Pray for W and Our Marines


12 posted on 07/12/2007 12:15:08 PM PDT by bray (Member of the FR President Bush underground)
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To: GitmoSailor

You bet, Gitmo, good to see you.


13 posted on 07/12/2007 12:18:49 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Girlene

Yes, I got the feeling in Chessani’s hearing that Conlin looked at the whole thing through the eyes of a commander who would have done things differently and ignored legalities.


14 posted on 07/12/2007 12:21:52 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: bray

I agree murtha should be brought up on charges but doubt it will happen. I think the most we could hope for is charges before the House Ethics Committee but that’s probably wishful thinking.

He should be forced to resign from the House for crucifying these marines before the investigation was even close to being completed.


15 posted on 07/12/2007 12:27:09 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: jazusamo; RedRover; Brian Rooney; Girlene; pissant; P-Marlowe; jude24; Lady Jag; ...

The battalion lawyer is NOT going to trial for doing anything wrong in reporting up the chain about the shooting incident, and the battalion warrior is NOT going to trial for doing anything wrong in the way he fought the fight, but the battalion commander is going to trial for not investigating what was NOT considered illegal by the lawyer and what was NOT a violation of the rules by the warrior.

This is insanity!


16 posted on 07/12/2007 12:34:24 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain And Proud of It! Those who support the troops will pray for them to WIN!)
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To: xzins

Agreed, Chaplin. Hopefully the officers sitting on the panel will understand the reality of all this. I don’t believe there’s any way they’ll convict him of the charges.


17 posted on 07/12/2007 12:40:03 PM PDT by jazusamo (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: Girlene

Thanks for pointing that out, Girlene. I noticed it as well, and while it could be a 2 edged sword, I got the impression that it was yet another rap on the knuckles of the NumbnutCriminallyInexperiencedShiprats


18 posted on 07/12/2007 12:50:04 PM PDT by 4woodenboats (DefendOurMarines.com)
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To: bybybill
Yep, you would hope. Anyone know what kind of protections these people have set up for themselves? I seem to recall that they can’t be sued for anything they say on the floor of the Senate; does immunity carry over when they repeat those comments for the press?
Murtha ...yuck.
19 posted on 07/12/2007 1:04:05 PM PDT by ArmyTeach
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To: bybybill
Yep, you would hope. Anyone know what kind of protections these people have set up for themselves? I seem to recall that they can’t be sued for anything they say on the floor of the Senate; does immunity carry over when they repeat those comments for the press?
Murtha ...yuck.
20 posted on 07/12/2007 1:04:09 PM PDT by ArmyTeach
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