Posted on 12/02/2010 11:02:10 AM PST by smoothsailing
Published: Dec. 1, 2010 at 3:58 PM
FORT CARSON, Colo., Dec. 1 (UPI) -- A Colorado hearing for an Army private, accused of killing a prisoner in Afghanistan, heard conflicting reports on his mental state.
Soldiers testified by telephone from Afghanistan Tuesday for Pfc. David Lawrence's preliminary hearing at Fort Carson, the Denver Post reported.
Lawrence, 20, is charged with premeditated murder for allegedly killing Taliban commander Mullah Mohebullah in his cell Oct. 17, hours after his capture. The defense portrays a troubled young man who was put on antidepressants and sent back to his unit, while the prosecution says Lawrence is feigning mental illness.
One witness, Pfc. Dimitri Jenkins said Lawrence, a "good friend," was "up and down."
"Sometimes you could tell he was on his meds, something in his eyes," Jenkins said.
But others said they saw him after the killing and heard him talk about claiming an insanity defense.
"It was something along the lines of his attorney is going to try to pull the crazy card," said Pvt. Aaron Rederstorf, recounting a statement he said he overheard after Lawrence was in custody.
Jaz, I’ve posted this article at the request of lilycicero and DefendOurMarine. I’ve included all the information I have. They have requested that we spread the word on this case.
Please ping our lists.
Main Entry: phar·ma·cy
Pronunciation: ‘fär-m&-sE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -cies
Etymology: Late Latin pharmacia administration of drugs, from Greek pharmakeia, from pharmakeuein to administer drugs,
from pharmakon magic charm, poison, drug
Date: 1651
1 : the art, practice, or profession of preparing, preserving, compounding, and dispensing medical drugs
2 a : a place where medicines are compounded or dispensed b : DRUGSTORE
3 : PHARMACOPOEIA 2
The term magic arts comes from the original word,
pharmakia, from which we also get the word pharmacy. It
also refers to the use of drugs, or sorcery. Those involved
in sorcery get high on drugs in order to make it easier to
contact demons. Pathetically today, millions of young
people are getting in bondage to Satan through the use of
drugs without even knowing it.
Most people taking drugs claim there aren’t any harmful
affects from drugs. But drugs act as a tool to open the
mind, and leave you defenseless against evil spirits entering
and taking possession. Ninety percent of those who belong
to the church of Satan started on drugs.
As mentioned earlier, the mystics of the east use drugs in
order to go into a trance which enables them to make
contact with the spirits, and they are soon possessed by
them. Charles Manson is a typical example of one who
became possessed by evil spirits through drugs. Revelation
18:23 - sorceries (Pharmakia, in the Greek) = drugs.
I believe him. The voices MUST have been real. After all, he didn't hit any road side bombs while he was in Afghanistan, did he?
I fail to see why this proves anything. So, he was crazy, on meds and hearing voices, and his defense attorney told him that he planned to plead insanity because he was, well, crazy. And he told a couple of his friends what the lawyer had said to him.
That hardly makes it a plot of some kind.
Can we give him a medal?
Pinging lists to posts 1 & 2. Thanks for the heads up, Smooth.
Crazy people aren’t supposed to know they are crazy.
If they plead insanity, then they are by definition sane.
lol.
While I understand there could be some intel value to the Taliban commander, in all likelihood, the local village leaders would have just shown up and said he was a simple farmer and we’d free him to generate good will.
What this Soldier did was neither crazy or immoral.
God Bless him.
I agree with you, and crazy or not, “killing Taliban commander Mullah Mohebullah” oughta at least merit an attaboy.
Yes, and a brand new car!!!
Dittoes!
Thanks Jaz, hopefully we’ll learn more about this. I havn’t had time to go through the Facebook info, but something tells me this PFC is getting railroaded.
It sorta sounds that way. I haven’t read anything but your post because I logged on after your ping. I’ll do some looking today and let me know if you discover anything.
That boggles the mind. After the way that the Haditha Marine cases were and are strung out and this judge can't even postpone an Article 32 hearing until a psych exam is completed? This is wrong in so many ways.
Thanks for the link, Girlene. You're right, it's a very sad situation!
Even making him go back on active duty with an anti-depressant after a few days would be way too soon if he was truly suffering from depression! (It takes a couple weeks for someone to start feeling the effects of that type of medication, and in the meantime it can leave you feeling even WORSE!)
The doctor should be forced to explain why he wasn’t put on an anti-psychotic, and given medical leave. Whether he is truly insane or not at this moment, it is (IMHO) the DOCTOR who should be facing questioning, and loss of freedom!
An Army-ordered psychiatric evaluation is under way to determine whether he understands the charges and is capable of participating in his own defense.
In a motion to delay the hearing, Lawrence’s attorney, James Culp of Austin, Texas, said it’s wrong for the Army to hold hearings in the case when its unclear whether the soldier understands what’s going on.
“I think its breathtakingly irresponsible,” Culp said after the hearing.
The Army denied Culp’s request, saying regulations do not require the court to put the case on hold until the psychiatric results are obtained.
I don't get it, what's the rush? Why can't the government wait until the evaluation is completed.
It's not like they don't let Marines and soldiers sit around for years waiting for trial.
I think they may have this backward. What he should be pleading with an insanity defense is “The people running this dog and pony show ARE COMPLETELY INSANE”.
No joke people.
They don’t have Rules of Engagement anymore. They have Terms of Endearment.
I gotta go. If you would like, you can come stand in the closet and SCREAM WITH ME!
NOT TRUE.
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