Investigator recommends dismissing charges against Marine accused in Haditha killings

International Herald Tribune ^ | August 23, 2007 | Associated Press

[Sergeant Tim]

SAN DIEGO: An investigating officer on Thursday recommended dismissal of all charges against a U.S. Marine accused of murdering two girls in an assault that killed 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha. Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, 26, is charged with unpremeditated murder of two girls and negligent homicide on suspicion that he unlawfully killed two men, a woman and a boy. He is also accused of assaulting another boy and a girl in what became the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war. Investigating officer Lt. Col. Paul Ware found the evidence was too weak for a court-martial. Tatum, shot and killed civilians, but "he did so because of his training and the circumstances he was placed in, not to exact revenge and commit murder," Ware wrote. "I believe ... Tatum's real life experience and training on how to clear a room took over and his body instinctively began firing while his head tried to grasp at what and why he was firing," Ware wrote. "By the time he could recognize that he was shooting at children, his body had already acted. Ware's recommendation is nonbinding. Lt. Gen. James Mattis, the commanding general overseeing the case, has final say about whether Tatum will be court-martialed.

[RDTF]

here’s your link

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[Dubya]

PRAISE THE LORD

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Over here.....http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885631/posts

[Admin Moderator]

Your title “Recommendation made to dismiss charges against another Marine accused in Haditha killings” wasn’t the title at the source.

Please just use the original published title.

Thanks.

[HonestConservative]

Thanks, Tim.

ova heah:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1885667/posts

[Sergeant Tim]

Ping!

[RedRover]

Just posted! Read the IO's report on the Tatum case!
(It's a pdf file.)

[RedRover]

Thanks! They managed a more syntactically sound headline than I could in the heat of the moment!

All: There's a related thread here.

[jazusamo]

Thanks for the ping, Sarge.

HADITHA MARINE PING! for RedRover.

[pissant]

I saw. Let’s keep praying until they all are cleared!!

[jazusamo]

Amen to that and it’s getting closer.

[Paperdoll]

Hey jaz! Best news of the day! Prayers still going up for them, for Compean and Ramos, and for all our brave troops in the M.E..

[RedRover]

Hey, jaz! Better update your picture!

[ARE SOLE]

They are still guilty, huh Jack?

[eyespysomething]

Haditha Marines ping

[RedRover]

And now it's on the general's hands...

[jazusamo]

Amen and Amen, doll! Wonderful news today.