Well, he got his wish.
If subpoenaed to give testimony in a trial then you don't have a choice. If you refuse then that's contempt and you go to jail for as long as the judge wants to keep you there. It makes no difference if it's a gangland thug or a Marine NCO.
“Nelson told them he’d rather go to jail than rat out a brother Marine.”
Plus, “than rat out” is an unfortunate phrasing, it makes it seem like the other Marine did something wrong in the first place to be “ratted out” in potential testimony.
Well...sort of..he was subpeonead but then he was given transactional immunity while he testified in front of the Grand Jury, meaning he could no longer claim a 5th amendment right against self incrimination.
The no evidence thing is just...bizarre..if there is no reliable confession, then the case makes no sense to proceed with, if the “confession” contradicts itself, then their only hope of convicting the man is if the witness can fill in the blanks.
The real lovely point is, even no conviction results, they can then face UCMJ proceedings.
I wonder if the UCMJ proceedings would make the contempt citation moot as he only has immunity in Civilian Court, but still faces other Charges in front of a Court?
“If subpoenaed to give testimony in a trial then you don’t have a choice. If you refuse then that’s contempt and you go to jail for as long as the judge wants to keep you there. It makes no difference if it’s a gangland thug or a Marine NCO.”
Cant he plead the 5th?
Agreed. I’m not sure if others here think a general court-martial would have more patience for Nelson, but I can certainly promise that’s not the case.
>>Nelson told them he’d rather go to jail than rat out a brother Marine.
Well, he got his wish.
If subpoenaed to give testimony in a trial then you don’t have a choice. If you refuse then that’s contempt and you go to jail for as long as the judge wants to keep you there. It makes no difference if it’s a gangland thug or a Marine NCO.<<
Then the system is F’ed up. Tear it down and start all over - this time without lawyers & judges. Common sense will suffice.
If you ain’t been in combat, you have no idea what it is like. What we have here is another assault on American values. Take the strongest and judge it to death.
My hats off to these Marines. There DI’s taught them well.
Semper fi
Well, he got his wish.
If subpoenaed to give testimony in a trial then you don’t have a choice. If you refuse then that’s contempt and you go to jail for as long as the judge wants to keep you there. It makes no difference if it’s a gangland thug or a Marine NCO.
Its a decision of the Judge and he did not have to put the Marine in jail, he could have fined him 5 bucks and told him - Semper Fi Mack.
That judge is a scum sucking pig. Send him to iraq and see how he likes getting treated like an infidel. Who will he be calling out for help to?
THE MARINES