[RedRover]

As xzins recalls, Tatun's testimony is consistent with his statements at the Article 32 hearing:

There are some points I’d like to bring to light.

The reason I fired in house 1 is that I knew small arms fire was coming from the south. I didn’t see where it was coming from, but I saw an M203 round hit house 1. My squad leader told me on the way to house 1 to treat it as hostile.

I heard a Marine engage a target after entering the house, and I knew Mendoza engaged a target to the right inside the house. I heard an AK-47 being racked in the room to the left, and me and Cpl Salinas threw grenades in that room. 

After the grenade went off, I went in and followed my training firing in my sector.

The visibility was horrible. There was dust and smoke. I really couldn’t make out more than targets. Someone yelled there was a runner, so I followed my fire team to house 2. Before we entered, Mendoza engaged someone through the door. Inside, I was told to frag a room. When I saw that room was clear, I heard another Marine engage in the next room. My duty was to help that Marine, so I went in and engaged targets.

It was dark, I couldn’t make out a whole lot. Just targets. I only went in each room a few steps, and the shooting lasted only seconds in both houses.

I did not tell NCIS I knew there were women and children before I fired. I did not know there was women and children in that house until I went back later in the afternoon with SSgt Laughner. Otherwise, I would have physically stopped everybody from shooting. The conversation Mendoza said happened never happened.

I am not comfortable with the fact that I might have shot a child. I don’t know if my rounds impacted anybody. That is a burden I will have to bear.

[smoothsailing]

It’s a powerful update from Nat, Red. How would you like to handle it, a thread of it’s own?

[jazusamo]

Thanks, Red...So much time has elapsed it's very difficult, at least for me, to remember prior testimony and it's clear that the prosecution is trying to take advantage of the time factor.

Thank goodness SSgt. Wuterich has the lawyers he does, it's early but so far this looks to be a blowout for him.

[Girlene]

As xzins recalls, Tatun's testimony is consistent with his statements at the Article 32 hearing:

I know, and I remember Tatum's statements from the past...I was pointing out in my earlier post that NC Times reported that Tatum said the only reason he knew there was hostile intent was because of SSgt Wuterich firing his weapon. (Although, you would think Kallop telling him to clear the house would indicate hostile intent.)

I'm assuming that statement came from statements he made after the 12-16 hours interrogation back in Haditha.

The two versions contradict each other. NC Times didn't report where their version came from. I'm assuming it came from prosecutor Gannon asking Tatum, (paraphrasing), "Isn't it true you said, blah, blah, blah in your deposition with NCIS?" Since Tatum can't remember exactly what he said or signed to, he can only take their word that he did say that.