Posted on 06/04/2008 6:58:22 PM PDT by RedRover
Lt Andrew Grayson, a defendant in the infamous Haditha case, has been found not guilty on all counts by a seven-member panel of Marine officers at Camp Pendleton.
Developing, details to follow.
Yes!
I couldn’t agree with you more! These Marines have still shown Espirit De Corps even when getting thrown in the pig poop. I don’t remember any of them going on any talk shows to tell their side of the story but it seems some of the “insurgents” are making their way here to tell the American people their sufferings at our various holding locations. May God bless them if they continue their service!
I did, hope others do as well....
Interesting, the stupid putz ays on his website:
“ After reviering you message”
Thats NOT my typo, thats HIS read by morons day in and day out and nobody including his staff and MURTHA himself, as “Chief Moron” have noticed it or corrected it.
MURTHA is truly a Dispicable Human Being, and hopefully the OUR GREAT MARINES WILL PUBLICALLY DEMAND AN APOLOGY FROM MURTHA AND DISOWN HIM AS A MARINE!
Seeing how the “Haditha” marines have been cleared of all charges and your egregious unfounded charges, when are you going to apologize. When are you going to resign?
You fat, traitorous, criminal, self-serving, anti-american, mountain of pig crap!
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Thanks for the ping. Good news.
Please contact John Murtha...everyone should with his direct quotes
Here is the contact information for Murtha
http://www.murtha.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=376&Itemid=73
Be respectful when sending an email, but demand a public apology.
You need to put in a 12th Congressional district zip code
15901 will work
Will the film-maker(i forgot his name) who made a film month ago on Haditha accusing US soldiers will be sued for defamation
THIS hero should never been charged in the first place.
This country has gone bonkers...charging those who do defend their country and honoring those who do not.
Thank you, Lord, for seeing justice served for this Honorable Hero.
Marine Acquitted of Haditha Charges; Judge Defers Decision on Crucial Motion and Delays Trial in LtCol Chessani Case
ANN ARBOR, MI – Last night, a jury panel of seven officers acquitted Marine 1st Lieutenant Andrew Grayson of all charges involving accusations that he covered-up the killings of 24 Iraqis in Haditha on November 19, 2005. The verdict caused spectators in courtroom on the vast Camp Pendleton Marine facility to erupt in cheers.
After his acquittal, Lt Grayson made comments about LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, one of the two remaining defendants in the Haditha cases, saying he was “one of the most steadfast men… He led by example and he knew the difference between right and wrong.” LtCol Chessani is being defended by the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Richard Thompson, President and Chief Counsel of the Law Center, observed, “The government ordered these Marines to the front lines, they ordered them to attack the insurgents… Marines, risking their lives, followed those orders without hesitation; their reward ─ criminal prosecution. There must be some righteous person in the chain of command that will say ‘enough is enough.’”
Earlier in the week, in another courtroom on the same Marine facility as Grayson’s trial, two days of motion hearings were concluded in the government’s case against LtCol Chessani, one of the Marine’s most effective combat leaders and the highest ranking officer charged in the Haditha incident. In that case, Military Judge, Col Steven Folsom deferred his decision on a crucial defense motion to June 16th, and delayed the actual trial until July 21st.
In May 2008, Col Folsom ruled that he found evidence of unlawful command influence (UCI). Courts consider UCI the mortal enemy of military justice. The judge’s finding was based upon the evidence that Generals Mattis and Helland, who controlled the disposition of LtCol Chessani’s case, were impermissibly influenced by Marine lawyer Col John Ewers, one of the investigators of the Haditha incident from the beginning. He was permitted to attend at least 25 closed-session meetings in which Chessani’s case was discussed.
As a result of that ruling, the burden shifted to prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) the facts alleged by the defense are untrue; (2) the facts alleged do not constitute unlawful command influence; or (3) the unlawful command influence will not affect the proceedings. In short, court decisions on unlawful command influence require the military judge to avoid even the “appearance of this evil” in his courtroom.
To meet their burden, earlier this week, prosecutors presented the testimony of General Mattis and Col Ewers. Conspicuously absent was the testimony of General Helland. In what might be a hint of his ruling, earlier in the week Col Folsom asked what remedies to the UCI problem both sides recommended.
Robert Muise, one of the TMLC defense attorneys, asked the military judge to dismiss the case with prejudice (meaning the case could not be recharged against LtCol Chessani). The prosecution asked for a less severe remedy.
The crucial Unlawful Command Influence motion (click here for Motion), which was the focus of this week’s hearing, was filed by the Thomas More Law Center. Law Center attorneys Robert Muise and Brian Rooney, both former Marines, wrote and argued the Unlawful Command Influence motion on which yesterday’s decision is based. The two TMLC attorneys, along with two detailed Marine lawyers, LtCol Jon Shelburne and Captain Jeffrey King, are defending LtCol Chessani.
The criminal charges against LtCol Chessani stem from a house-to-house, room-by-room battle four of his enlisted Marines engaged in on November 19, 2005 after being ambushed by insurgents in the town of Haditha, Iraq. Even though LtCol Chessani immediately reported the events of that day to his superiors, including the death of 15 noncombatant civilians caught in the crossfire, nobody in LtCol Chessani’s chain of command believed there was any wrongdoing on behalf of the Marines.
However, months later, a Time magazine story instigated by an insurgent propaganda agent, caused Pentagon officials to order the largest investigation in the history of the Naval Criminal Investigative Services (NCIS). As a result, LtCol Chessani, now faces dismissal (an officer’s equivalent of a dishonorable discharge), loss of retirement, and imprisonment of up to 3 years.
According to press reports, 1st Lt Grayson's attorney, Joseph Casas, said he believed the verdict could influence pending prosecutions. “I think it sets the tone for the overall whirlwind Haditha has been. It's been a botched investigation from the get-go,” he said. “I believe in the end all of the so-called Haditha Marines who still have to face trial will be exonerated.”
The Thomas More Law Center defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through litigation, education, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. The Law Center is supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, and is recognized by the IRS as a section 501(c)(3) organization. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org.
Hence my query in #72. The evidence, as stipulated to in sworn depositions during the various Article 32 Hearings and rulings, and the Court Martial proceedings so far, are indicative to me that vendetta is definitely the operative action.
I realise that it likely won't happen, and even if it did would not help Grayson in any way; but it would put the Corps on notice, and give hope to other Marines coming up behind, that Honour and Duty are more than just catch-words.
Thank GOD!
Take that Murtha! You Bastard!
Should be political fodder to help oust Murtha in the Nov. elections. Unless too many brain-dead drone sheeple vote this creep back in.
Now to figure out how to get the letters of censure, to Maj. Gen. Richard A. Huck; Col. R. Gary Sokoloski; and Col. Stephen W. Davis, expunged from their records.
Brave and honorable Haditha Marines have more honor, bravery and integrity in their toenails than scum lawyers and egoist politicians have in total mass....near ZERO!
I e mailed him...thanks. Asked him to apologize if he’s a real man.
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