Posted on 06/28/2009 5:05:09 PM PDT by RedRover
A group of retired Marines is rallying behind Sgt. Jermaine Nelson, the last of three Marines to face trial in the killing of unarmed prisoners during a battle in Fallouja, Iraq, in November 2004.
Two other defendants have been found innocent: former Sgt. Jose Nazario in federal court in August, and Sgt. Ryan Weemer in a court-martial at Camp Pendleton in April.
Nelson's case is set for a pretrial hearing Monday at Camp Pendleton. He stands accused of unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty.
Calls for the charges to be dropped have come from retired Col. G.I. Wilson; William McNulty of the Marine Corps Intelligence Assn.; and the board of directors of the Warrior Legacy Foundation, a group dedicated to opposing what it sees as unjust treatment of military personnel. A petition has been posted on the military-themed website BlackFive.
(Excerpt) Read more at kabc.com ...
And you can read more about the case HERE
Charges should be dropped against Sgt. Nelson!
The petition
TO DISMISS CHARGES AGAINST SGT JERMAINE NELSON USMC
DUE TO UNFAIR PROSECUTION BY CAPT NICK GANNON
The undersigned seek to inform the Military Judge presiding over U.S. v. Sgt Jermaine Nelson, that the public has a loss of confidence in the military justice system due to the unfair manner in which the prosecutor, Capt Nick Gannon, has conducted this case. On several occasions, Capt Gannon intentionally disadvantaged and/or prejudiced Sgt Nelson’s ability to defend himself against the criminal accusations of murder.
Sgt Jermaine Nelson is the last of three decorated combat Marines charged with killing jihadists during the 2004 battle for Fallujah, Iraq.
Sgt Nelson was a member of the 3/1 Marines from Camp Pendleton, a storied and highly decorated ground-fighting unit. A brand new Corporal at that time, Cpl Nelson’s job was to search house to house, on foot, in a ‘seek and destroy’ mission against jihadists who had flooded the city specifically to kill and conduct a holy war against the Marines. During the battle on 9 November 2004, four military-aged jihadist males were found barricaded in a house, shooting at Cpl Nelson and his team. When the Marines finally gained access into the house, the four combatants attempted to elude them.
The command was consulted via radio and gave the order to kill the four jihadists. Accordingly, the squad leader, Sgt Nazario, ordered that the jihadists be killed. Now, Sgt Nelson is accused of murder and dereliction of duty for his alleged role in the incident, while his Platoon Commander, an Officer, has been given immunity.
Capt Nicholas Gannon, a young, inexperienced J.A.G. prosecutor, has attempted to disadvantage Sgt Nelson’s defense by retaining experts to testify on behalf of the prosecution against Sgt Nelson, but refusing to allow Sgt Nelson to present similarly experienced and qualified experts.
On two separate occasions Capt Gannon denied Sgt Nelson’s defense team a forensic expert, despite the fact that the prosecution was presenting their own experts. In addition, Capt Gannon attempted to retain an international expert on P.T.S.D. to testify for the prosecution, while refusing to provide the defense team’s request for a qualified P.T.S.D. expert of their choice. The judge presiding over the case ruled that the prosecutor’s actions did in fact prejudice Sgt Nelson’s defense and ordered the prosecution to provide qualified experts to the defense. As a direct result of the prosecution’s improper actions, Sgt Nelson’s trial has been delayed twice, causing him additional undue emotional and psychological stress.
The signatories to this Petition believe that any reasonable member of the public, if made aware of all the facts of this case, would view the case against Sgt Nelson as unfair and a gross abuse of prosecutorial power. To continue prosecuting Sgt Nelson under these circumstances is unconscionable, and will erode the credibility of the military justice system.
Sign the petition-http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/sgtnelson/index.html
The witch hunt continues for him and Lt Col Chessini.
Will other Marines rally with them and will they stand up to their Commander in Chief?
Speaking of the lieutenant colonel, there's a new post here: GENERAL CONWAY BAILS
Thnaks!
Ping
May Justice prevail. . .in God’s name; may Justice prevail. We know, it does not always; can only hope and pray; by all that is right - in our universe - that Justice in truth, wins; hands down. . .
This KABC conclusion at the end of their article is pretty weak. Weemer's jury did not operate in a vacuum, and the reports are available. Tony Perry must not be a reader/researcher type of reporter.
Weemer's jury found it hard to convict a guy who said that, while in the middle of the worst house-to-house conflict in generations, a terrorist attacked him, and they had only his word to go on versus an NCIS detective who had no evidence whatsoever.
I know it's hard for reporters to keep up, Red, but they could easily surf on over to "Defend Our Marines", couldn't they?
Perhaps this Marine will finally see the light of day.
Sgt. Jermaine Nelson makes a correct decision and ends up paying the steep price of command decision at the hands of those that do not carry any badge of honor.
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