Posted on 08/09/2007 12:17:06 PM PDT by RedRover
LOS ANGELES – All charges were dropped against a captain accused of failing to investigate the deaths of 24 civilians in Haditha, the Marine Corps announced Thursday. Also, all charges were dropped against Marine Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005.
Capt. Randy W. Stone, 35, a battalion lawyer from Dunkirk, Md., was one of four officers charged with failing to adequately probe the killings.
"It is clear to me that any error of omission or commission by Capt. Stone does not warrant action under the Uniform Code of Military Justice," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote.
Earlier Thursday, the Marine Corps announced that charges had been dismissed against Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, who was accused of murdering three brothers in the assault.
"The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote in his written decision in the Sharratt case. Under military law, a commanding general has total jurisdiction over a case.
Sharratt, 22, of Canonsburg, Pa., had been charged with murder in the deaths of three of those killed after the bomb attack on Nov. 19, 2005.
The decision to drop the charges followed an earlier recommendation from a hearing officer who listened to evidence in the case.
In his recommendation, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said murder charges brought against Sharratt were based on unreliable witness accounts, insupportable forensic evidence and questionable legal theories.
"The government version is unsupported by independent evidence," Ware wrote in an 18-page report. "To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary."
Prosecutors alleged Sharratt and other members of his battalion engaged in a revenge-motivated assault on Iraqi civilians after a roadside bomb killed a fellow Marine. Sharratt contended the Iraqi men he confronted were insurgents and at least one was holding an AK-47 rifle when he fired at them.
Ware said prosecution of Sharratt could set a "dangerous precedent that ... 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."
"Even more dangerous is the potential that a Marine may hesitate at the critical moment when facing the enemy," Ware said.
Mattis said he made his decision after looking at all the evidence presented at the Article 32 evidence hearing, much like a preliminary hearing in criminal courts.
"You have served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq where our nation is fighting a shadowy enemy who hides among the innocent people, does not comply with any aspect of the law of war, and routinely targets and intentionally draws fire toward civilians," Mattis wrote.
"Operational, moral and legal imperatives demand that we Marines stay true to our own standards and maintain compliance with the law of war in this morally bruising environment," he said.
"With the dismissal of these charges, you may fairly conclude that you did your best to live up to the standards ... in the face of life or death decisions made by you in a matter of seconds in combat."
Besides Sharratt, two other enlisted men were charged with murder. Four officers were accused of failing to investigate the deaths.
What a beautiful day!!!!
Keep’em coming!!!!!
We’ll always have some kooky congressman. The prosecutors are the traitors in this case, and ought to be indicted for treason.
Big Bump to you Red!!!!!.............
Thank the Lord! Great, GREAT news!! Forgive me for asking, I have been trying to keep up, but considering the statements made with these dismissals, why is Lt Col Chessani going to court martial? Or is there just a recommendation for court martial? I thought someone said here that it would be highly unlikely for the General to go against a recommendation, yet now it’s proven in two cases there was no crime. What is the liklihood of the charges against those with hearings still pending being dismissed?
Praise the Lord, He does hear our prayers. These fine Marines are heroes and I am so thankful and proud of them. I hope to see all of the other charges dropped too....let’s keep praying.
God Bless!!!
Oh yes, the troop supporters...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKk4pc_w1CA&NR=1
There are some who can answer to this better:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8FZ_nxmf0Y
A message from Uncle Jimbo:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eg2S4LNQsGA
And Vet Wagner:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCnQxtn9v9w&mode=related&search=
And Seavey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-qBJwjSKA8&mode=related&search=
I’ll let Brit sum it up for me:
:)Will do.
Wow! Lt. Gen. James Mattis is standing tall!
Thanks for the links, Ali. I wasn’t be able to catch Brit Hume today but hope he covered this! (I’ve already written up Hannity and BOR.)
I would think so. They do have legal standing for slander. However, I also think they have too much (if that’s possible) honor to lower themselves to litigants. The right people in America know the truth. They would take honor in that.
I would have no problem at all if they do decide to go the litigation route. Murtha deserves it. It would still be the taxpayers who pay though (as always).
It is clear to me that the tide has turned in this case and that We can expect to see more charges being dropped.
That’s my reading, too. Very, very encouraging.
Insiders still expect LCpl Tatum’s case will go to court martial—where they expect him to exonerated. But that’s partly based on how unusual it is for ANY case of this severity to not reach a court martial.
These two decisions by Mattis are practically unprecedented.
Red, It has been a great day for the Sharratt and Stone families. It is my hope the remaining Haditha families can take joy in the knowledge that there will be a similar vindication for their Marines. I believe Lt General Mattis has taken notice of the travesty of justice that has been wrought upon HIS Marines. The allegations brought on by the MSM and political agenga of Rep Murtha cannot stand the test of the truth. Lt. Gen Mattis will let these proceedings run their due course and will do the right thing...DROP ALL CHARGES UNDULY BROUGHT UPON HIS MARINES!
God Bless Our Haditha Marines
Darryl Sharratt
Amen, my friend!
A very good day—and I hope you get your first GREAT night’s sleep in more than a year.
I’m just so happy for you all—and overjoyed that Gen Mattis proved himself to be the man he is.
I prayed and supported these Marines because I believed in them. As for Murtha, what can I say except he should be tried for treason against America.
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