Interview with Dr. Herbert Leon MacDonell forensic scientist (re 1Lt Michael Behenna)

The Washington Times ^ | 1/18/2012 | Charles van Heck

[NECAWA]

To summarize the case, on April 21, 2008, terrorists attacked Behenna’s platoon, wounding two of his men and killing two others, along with two Iraqi civilians.

On May 5th, officials arrested Ali-Mansur for his involvement in this particular attack. After questioning Mansur, Army Intelligence released him without explanation, then turned him over to Behenna to escort Mansur back to his home. Behenna attempted to interrogate Mansur.

Would you briefly summarize the case in the death of Ali-Mansur?

A: My understanding is that the prosecution believed Behenna shot Ali Mansur when he was sitting down. The first shot was to the head and then after he rolled over on the ground, he was shot again in the chest.

Q: Do you believe Behenna is innocent?

A: I believe his testimony fits the known physical facts. If Ali Mansur was standing and reaching for Behenna's gun and was, at that moment shot, it would explain the horizontal trajectory of Ali Mansur's chest wound. If he dropped straight down and was shot in the head as his head passed in front of the muzzle of Behenna's gun that would be consistent with the horizontal trajectory of the head shot and the near parallel trajectories of both shots.

To have both of these trajectories consistent with the government's theory requires that Ali Mansur rolled off the piece of concrete he was sitting on, to the ground and somehow his right arm landed raised up far enough to allow the second shot to enter beneath it and have a trajectory horizontal if he were standing and parallel to the head shot if he were looking straight ahead.

I consider this so unlikely as to constitute a near impossibility. My reenactment of how I believe the shootings occurred is far more likely.

[NECAWA]

Dr. MacDonell was the prosecution's expert witness, who's testimony likely would have cleared 1LT Behenna of the premeditated murder charge, but he never was called to testify and the defense was never told of his findings. Now 1LT Behenna is serving 15 years in Leavenworth. His last chance will be an appeal before the Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces later this year. Michael Behenna has been railroaded. He needs and deserves our support. Please contribute to his defense with prayers, letters and dollars. More info at www.defendmichael.com

[WOBBLY BOB]