Posted on 08/09/2007 10:49:28 PM PDT by xzins
It is Hensley who is claiming his kills were legitimate. Vela is being charged with one of the three killings, as is Sandoval. Hensley is being charged with all three. Hensley was in command of the unit.
Every indication is that these are normal Americans, loved in their communities, respected in their units, being promoted at a normal to above-normal pace, and very experienced in the climate of war in Iraq.
One article says: “either IED materials or small arms” were planted. I assume those papers got that information from some source. They fail to mention the source. Often the media will report in a sensationalistic way and ignore anything exculpatory in a report.
My experience says that the Army simply doesn’t allow its troops to collect AK47s or IED materials and KEEP THEM. They MUST turn them in. If found with them, it is a court-martial offense.
Where did the AK47s come from that these troops supposedly “placed around the bodies?” If they came from that day’s battle space, which is most likely, then why are the soldiers wrong to assign them to the bodies of those they thought to be insurgents. It’s not like they have the enemy weapons cards and have absolute knowledge about which weapons goes with which body.
Why would they assign them to particular bodies? Because they have a responsibility to report during an AAR (After Action Review) about the sequence and events in a battle.
I think they’re innocent.
I have learned that vela made a statement reflecting what his co told him to report. Apparently his conscience took over and he filed a clear and concise statement as to what really took place. This is where his charges stem from (filing a false report among the rest) We don’t know any real particulars of the events or situation. The military is very reticent.So innocent, maybe not completely so, mitigating circumstances, definitely, but not knowing what they were actually doing makes it very hard to make any judgments. We love and support evan with all our hearts, minds, and souls.
Here’s the Centcom link to the original press release. They have no new info, and really appear to be using a standard reporting format.
http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/Lists/Current%20Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=5231
A similar article on Vela is on the July 2/3 pages of the Centcom site.
The biggest challenge will be a lack of information. We got fairly regular reports on Hamdania and Haditha because the North County Times covers Pendleton.
I’ve looked on both the Centcom and the MNF-Iraq websites, and all we get is the bare bones information.
We need the soldiers themselves to get their lawyers to get some information out.
We don’t even know when the incidents are supposed to have taken place.
Most of our information has come from news reports, which also amounts to very little. My brother has been in limited phone contact, but can’t get much hard info as calls are monitored. The Military Combat Defense Fund has evinced interest in helping. Private counsel is way beyond our means, working check to check. But out resovle is strong. Evan’s JAG Attorney is no help. We’re going to try and delay this long enough to get him home. If you feel Strongly enough tell everyone you know to get involved, and stop this madness.
For all of our sakes, for all our troops.
We'll do what we can to start getting the word out. Please stay in touch. You can always reach me at WarChronicle@Verizon.net.
And let me know if youf family needs any help finding a lawyer.
Vela, on advice from his Jag attorney, has waived his Article 32. Guess whose side he’s on. This story, as far as we know, was first reported by the Anchorage Daily News. They were the first to contact us, don’t know how to ping,pong or much else with this contraption. Send a prayer for evan’s new daughter, born this spring, that he may be around to see her grow up. That’s what he’s fighting for.
Fred, in the military the Art 32 hearing is the same as a civilian grand jury hearing. The point of the Art 32 is to see if there is enough evidence to require that the case go to a trial.
The military is actually better than the civilian, though, because in a military Art 32, the defendant is allowed to present evidence and must get all the evidence that the prosecution has. It has been BECAUSE of the Art 32 hearings for the Marines, that General Mathis has decided NOT to have them go to trial.
Another point is that there is no jeopardy at an Art 32 hearing. I'm really puzzled by your nephew being advised to waive his Art 32.
Can you tell me the RANK and years of military experience of his lawyer? Does he have a civilian lawyer, too?
Hey..frp mail is busted...did you get an answer?
not yet. did you get what I sent you? I think what I sent to them went out ok. but when I try the reply to you, nada.
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