Our Last Chance for Justice in the Courts! (1st Lt Michael Behenna)

email to supporters ^ | 11/10/2011 | Scott & Vicki Behenna

[NECAWA]

To the thousands of supporters of 1Lt Michael Behenna,

It has been awhile since we sent out an update. Michael's lawyers have filed the petition to the Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces (CAAF). The CAAF is the highest court for the military justice system and is similar to the Supreme Court as they do not have to take your appeal. There were four issues on Michael's case presented to the CAAF and we would expect to hear within 30-60 days whether the CAAF will hear his case. If the CAAF does not choose to hear any of the issues, then Michael’s appeals are done. So you can see the importance of this appeal. We desperately need your prayers so that Michael’s conviction will be seen by the CAAF for what it is – an abomination of the military justice system. The CAAF judges are civilians, so it is our hope that they will look at Michael's case much differently than how the military judges have thus far.

Michael has his next Clemency Hearing the first week of January 2012. Although the Clemency Board disappointed us last year in not granting any Clemency (despite Michael being a model prisoner for the past two years), we know we will get to present Michael’s situation before a new panel. In addition, we are hopeful that with the US military leaving Iraq at the end of December, that the atmosphere of appeasement towards the Iraqi government may be different. If you want to help with Michael's Clemency you can draft a letter to the Clemency Board. A sample clemency letter is included below, but we ask that you PLEASE change up the language and add some additional thoughts, so the letters don't all look the same.

Also, we would like to get Michael's petition (currently 28,400) to over 35,000 signatures before our meeting with the Clemency Board. We would really appreciate it if you could blast out this request to everyone you can. You can sign the petition at [1]http://www.petitiononline.com/MBehenna/petition.html.

Michael is handling his prison life remarkably well and is not caught up in the negative mindsets and daily doldrums of incarceration. His sights remain firmly on the day he will be released and finally returns home to his family. He very much appreciates all the support that you have given him and looks forward to being able to thank each of you for all your efforts on his behalf. Thanksgiving is just a couple of weeks away and despite our struggles to free Michael from this injustice we have much to be thankful for. As the holidays near and Michael spends his 1000th day behind bars please keep him in your prayers and consider sending him a card or letter at:

Michael Behenna #87503

1300 N. Warehouse Road

Ft. Leavenworth, KS 66027-2304

Lastly, a Special Forces soldier who Michael befriended in Leavenworth named Kelly Stewart has a new book about Stewart's politicized military trial (the author talked about Michael's case in the forward). I won't ruin the story for you, but suffice it to say that it is the most tragic, unjust conviction I have ever encountered. The book is called Three Days in August and can be purchased at the following link: [2]http://threedaysinaugust.com/ Please pray that Kelly will receive a new trial so that he can clear his name once and for all.

Yours in the fight for justice,

Scott & Vicki Behenna

[NECAWA]

This fine young soldier and his family richly deserve our support. Please help with prayers, letters, and your signature on a petition.

[NECAWA]

Sorry, I neglected to include the web site that has the whole story of this tragic case: www.defendmichael.com