SGT. DUB
Posted on 04/09/2009 11:16:27 AM PDT by Sergeant Tim
CAMP PENDLETON -- A military jury this morning acquitted Marine Sgt. Ryan Weemer in the killing of an unarmed Iraqi insurgent during the battle for the city of Fallujah in 2004.
The 26-year-old Illinois native hugged his attorney, who broke into tears on hearing the not-guilty verdict.
Weemer's wife, sister and high school English teacher, who attended each day of the trial that started March 30, also cried as the decision was read.
Weemer was charged last year with unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. Prosecutors alleged that as a corporal, he killed one of four captive insurgents the government says were slain on Nov. 9, 2004.
Defense attorney Paul Hackett had urged the panel of eight combat-experienced officer to acquit his client, arguing Wednesday that the slain man had lunged for Weemer's gun causing him to shoot in self-defense.
Prosecutors argued that in taped interviews Weemer said he shot the man and told a squadmate that he would "have to live with that for the rest of my life."
The incident emerged when Weemer told a Secret Service job interviewer about the killings that took place in the opening hours of the fight for Fallujah.
Two other men from Weemer's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment Kilo Company squad also were charged with taking part in the slayings. One, Weemer's squad leader former Sgt. Jose Nazario Jr., was tried and acquitted on two counts of manslaughter.
HEY MURTHA:
SUCK IT.
Yet Murtha still goes free...
its a shame that we train these men and women to be killers and then send them off to kill only to bring them home on murder or manslaughter charges....God Bless them all and thank God for the verdict......
Hey, justice is for just us peons.
Best news I have heard it quite soem time. How appaling is it that people who were not in there; nor seem to have a clue as to what events transpired in the Battle of Fallujah believe they have the right to charge a protector of their own freedom for performing his duties admirably.
WooHoo!!!
Uh Rah
But that jerk will not give the SAME respect to our Marines!
Shame on the government for pushing these false charges against all of those brave Marines.
Double shame on the cowardly self-agrandizing traitor Murtha
Ping
I’m starting to think one of the biggest problems with this country is trophy-hunting prosecutors without any common sense or human empathy.
But! But! I thought Murtha said they were guilty. Why did we have to go and get a verdict?
AMEN
One shot, one kill. If he used two or more bullets, consider re-charging him for wasting ammo...Semper Fi.
...and dumbasses keep voting for him.
ELR!
Extremely Lousy Reporting.
We have lots of information here, except the weasel, and others subsequently, who decided it was necessary to prosecute this soldier.
Names, please.
As for the Secret Service, this anecdote gives me mixed feelings about the common sense and competence at that agency. At least for the next four years.
Just saying.
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