Posted on 09/13/2010 11:07:39 PM PDT by Lancey Howard
Prosecutors in the manslaughter trial of a Camp Pendleton Marine charged in the deaths of 24 Iraqis in 2005 were given unaired portions of a "60 Minutes" interview he gave months before being accused of the war crimes.
A military judge presiding over the trial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich said he was releasing the tapes because prosecutors believe they could bolster their case.
The judge, Lt. Col. David Jones, said the outtakes also might prove useful at sentencing should Wuterich be convicted of leading his squad in the killing of the Iraqis in the city of Haditha after a roadside bombing that killed one Marine and injured two others.
The government contends that the killings were unlawful and violated the military's rules of engagement.
(Excerpt) Read more at nctimes.com ...
(( ping ))
jazusamo,
Please ping your Haditha ping list. Your list is far more extensive than mine, I’m sure.
Thanks,
LH
This article is worth reading in its entirety. It’s short, but there were several passages that really furrowed my brow. I hope Mark Walker stays on this story, and it will be very interesting indeed to hear what Nat has to report about this also.
Wow, does this ever sound like the fix is in!
The judge delivered the outtakes only because he thinks they will help the prosecution's case, and he is already contemplating sentencing!
Why do I get the feeling the judge, David Jones, has already brushed off all possibility of dismissal like dandruff? I sure hope the Wuterich team can go over this scumbag's head for a fair hearing. He sure as sh1+ won't be treated fairly by Jones.
>> [jazusamo’s] list is far more extensive than mine,
I agree.
>> The judge delivered the outtakes only because he thinks they will help the prosecution’s case,
Something smells foul.
I never saw the interview and wonder if Wuterich had council at the time.
The prosecution will no doubt attempt to exploit any of Wuterich’s misstatements or errors in recollection.
The fix is in.
I cannot think of one single ruling of any significance that this scumbag Jones has ruled in favor of the defense. Not one.
War is one aspect of history that the general population does not need to be subjected to every detail. War is cruel and victory demands actions to be taken by heroic men and women that a "civilized" society would be able to comprehend. This is one reason we have a military to protect us.
The brave men and women of our military are willing and able to do what the citizenry is unable or unwilling to do.
Mebbee, mebbee not.
I thought the stink was in when See bs held back the outakes in the 1st place. I remember that interview, not word for word, but the gist of it. (Red Rover probably does have it in plain sight).
Frank came across as an intelligent, compassionate individual who never in a million years would harm anyone if there were any recourse that didn't put his men in imminent danger, which was obviously the case.
Even then, the one house that was stacked exclusively with civilians - all women & children (Bait for the camera) - got a guard from SSgt Wuterich's men, not bullets.
I've always been at odds with the concept of CBS doing the right thing, and that absolutely nothing happened for a couple years - which gave a corrupt prosecution an excuse to ditch Frank's attorneys.
Now the story is CBS finally gave up. Why? There was no reason to, at least non I remember. The Marine Corps wasn't winning any motions, all their evidence belong to dust - and imagination, the war is officially over, so why the punt when they were casually walking past the goal post?
As for the judge's comments - if they were his comments - they are walking a really fine line at best, in a case proven to have been tainted to the point of being unprosecutable due to Unlawful Command Influence.
A military judge presiding over the trial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich said he was releasing the tapes because prosecutors believe they could bolster their case. The judge, Lt. Col. David Jones, said the outtakes also might prove useful at sentencing.....well gee whiz, why didn't NCIS just go straight to the sentencing faze, think of all the time Prosecutor Gannon lost...struck down in his prime... by his own kid.
FWIW, I'll keep the voodoo doctors at bay until I read a quote from the judge, not NCT. (but not for long, I've only got so many quarters....)
This is ridiculous! The judge is not there to pick sides and help anyone!!!
For the life of me, I cannot understand why ANY soldier would talk to the media unless ordered to do so....and if so ordered, mention those orders repeatedly during said interview. The same goes for tea partiers etc. The media is our ENEMY...do NOT give them ammo!!
Like you it seems to me something smells but we need more info on this. I can't imagine anything on those cuts hurting SSgt. Wuterich or they wouldn't have been cut.
The "Hutchins Motion" could and should make this moot, charges should be dismissed.
.
What smells, Jaz, is Mark Walker. The stench is his personal prejudice and slanted report of what happened during this hearing.
Check out this report of the same hearing, but from a different source...
"The case has dragged on because of legal wrangling -- including a dispute over whether prosecutors could use unaired footage from a 2007 interview Wuterich gave to "60 Minutes."
"A military appeals court last year ordered the network to turn over some unaired portions to prosecutors.
"On Monday, the judge released all unaired portions to both sides, saying he was leaving it up to the lawyers to decide how best to use them in court."
http://www.wavy.com/dpp/military/Marines-defense-lawyer-steps-down-in-Iraq-case
When the Associated Press can be seen as objective in it's reporting as compared to the fevered scribblings of Mark Walker, it's time for Walker to be completely ignored as a source of reliable news. "
Thanks for posting that, Smooth. I found that same piece by Watson a little earlier at Canadian Press and was going to link it but got a phone call.
You’re absolutely right, I thought the same thing about Walker when reading it. The turkey is so biased on the Haditha cases it’s pathetic.
I’m hoping Nat can get some info and write a piece.
Me too. One thing is certain, either Walker or the AP is full of it. I suspect Walker.
The Mark Walker version: On Monday the judge said he gave unaired portions to prosecutors so they could bolster their case, convict Wuterich, and influence sentencing.
The Associated Press version: On Monday, the judge released all unaired portions to both sides, saying he was leaving it up to the lawyers to decide how best to use them in court.
Thanks for the clarification, smooth!
Glad to do it, Girlene. This Mark Walker has been nothing but a shill for the government inquisition since the beginning, as far as I’m concerned.
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