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A couple of thoughts:

1. The US Constitution guarantees a speedy trial. It’s not as if this Haditha persecution had a key witness in hiding or something else that would have mitigated justice that prevented its being speedy. It should be dismissed for abuse of Staff Sgt Wutterich’s constitutional rights

2. Next, the UCI is still hanging over this trial.

3. It’s obvious to any observer that the facts do not fit with any crime being committed

In short, it makes sense to drop this and it is nonsense to go on with it.

Very good observations, xzins.

I think the charges from the white car are pretty weak. The occupants were in the killing zone immediately after the IED went off. There was intelligence indicating a possible VIED with a white car not long before this incident happened. Chessani noted a picture (not currently released to the public) that showed a cutout in the front grill (?) which was consistent with others that would have hidden video cams to document any carnage after the IED. The prosecution is trying to convict Wuterich of wrong-doing to "one or more of unknown" occupants. Huh?

Moving onto the houses, Wuterich was ordered to clear the houses by a superior after several people agreed there was shooting come from their direction. In the second house, SSgt Wuterich is charged with killing a man, because he allegedly ordered Mendoza to kill this man. Mendoza changed his initial account of what happened in that house after being granted immunity by the prosecution. He was also transferred out of Camp Pendleton to Chicago, and possible immigration problems (with his wife, I think) may have played into his reversal of "what happened".

On top of that, Wuterich is charged with the deaths of two children in the second house that were originally blamed on LCpl Tatum (before his charges were dismissed). They can't make up their minds on who to charge with what, but since Wuterich is the last guy standing, he must have killed everyone? Come on.

Beyond trying to prove SSgt Wuterich's actions were within the ROE's that existed at that time, I would put the prosecution and convening authorities on trial. What is their intent with immunity that has been proferred for their "star" witnesses.....witnesses that conveniently changed their testimony after immunity. What is their intent with allowing Col. Ewers to not only be an investigator, a possible witness, but sit in on hours and hours of meeting with the convening authorities while they were deciding how to charge these Marines. (Col Ewers had no business being there.) What is their intent with ignoring the presiding judge's Article 32 recommendations for Wuterich and just deciding they would throw the kitchen sink at him with all these charges.

In short, it makes sense to drop this and it is nonsense to go on with it.

Spot on.