Posted on 08/09/2007 1:23:49 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Murder charges against a US Marine accused of killing three Iraqi civilians during an alleged massacre in Haditha two years ago have been dropped, the military said on Thursday.
A statement released by the Marines at their Camp Pendleton base in southern California revealed that three charges of unpremeditated murder against Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt had been withdrawn.
The decision was announced in a written ruling from the commander Lieutenant General James Mattis and followed a recommendation from an investigator last month that the charges should be dropped.
"An independent Article 32 investigating officer has considered all the facts and determined that the evidence does not support a referral to court-martial for Lance Corporal Sharratt," Mattis wrote.
"Based on my review of all the evidence in this case and considering the recommendation of the Article 32 officer, I have dismissed the charges."
Sharratt was accused of shooting three Iraqi men execution-style in what prosecutors alleged was part of a rampage that left 24 civilians dead following the death of a Marine in a roadside bomb in November 2005.
Sharratt said the men were shot at close quarters as Marines cleared a house where insurgents were believed to be operating.
In a statement recommending the charges be dropped released last month, investigator Lieutenant Colonel Paul Ware said the prosecution charges were "unsupported by the independent evidence."
"To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary," Ware added.
The Haditha killings are the most serious allegations of war crimes against US soldiers in Iraq.
Eight Marines were initially charged in connection with the case -- four with murder and four officers with failing to properly investigate the incident.
Sharratt is the second Marine to have murder charges dropped after allegations against Sergeant Sanick DeLa Cruz were withdrawn in April.
Wonderful news! Hopefully this same news keeps coming for the rest of them.
Wait a minute, John Murtha said it was murder, it must have been MURDER! What, you’re telling me he’s wrong? Him and both of his chins? He’s got me beat three to one, for crying out loud, how could he be wrong?
Could there be a prosecutor who actually looks at the evidence before going to trial?
At last! The case against these fine men is falling like a house of cards. I hope they are all soon exonerated, and well compensated for the diabolic injustice they’ve had to suffer.
Unfortunately, not for the Haditha Marines there isn’t.
Thank God that General Mattis saw through all the machinations and obsfucations of the prosecution and dismissed all charges against these fine men.
It would be nice if the prosecution and NCIS had any interest in the truth regarding that November day in Haditha, but it has become glaringly obvious that they were following a pre-conceived notion and script. Now they seem more interested in tacking on additional charges to Lt Col Chessani in their quest to sandbag him.
My belief, after seeing statements from General Mattis, is that the other Haditha Marines will receive dismissals as well. And as should be.
What most of us have been saying the whole time. And unlike the ilk of Murtha who proclaimed that these Marines were guilty of murder and other war crimes, the investigator waited and looked at the EVIDENCE.
Add yet another Marine who is owed an apology by that scumbag Murtha.
See post by RedRover:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1878834/posts?page=61#61
Ping!
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