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.
I think he was anticipating getting out anyway. That was part of the charge - lying on his discharge papers.
The prosecution case against eight Marines accused in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha has now dwindled to just two defendants, with no convictions or guilty pleas.
With the Wednesday acquittal of Lt. Andrew Grayson by a jury of seven officers at Camp Pendleton, the prosecution of six of the defendants is now complete.
Of the four enlisted Marines initially charged with murdering men, women and children, three have had the charges thrown out.
The fourth, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, is still set for court-martial, but the military-judge at his preliminary hearing has written that he doubts a conviction is possible because of lack of forensic evidence and unreliable statements by witnesses. No date has been set for the trial as prosecutors seek to force CBS to deliver unbroadcast parts of a "60 Minutes" interview with Wuterich.
Of four officers accused of dereliction for not ordering a full-scale war crimes investigation into the November 2005 killings, two have had charges thrown out. Grayson, an intelligence officer, was the first defendant to go to trial.
In July, unless the judge rules in favor of a defense motion claiming undue command influence, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the battalion commander, is set for court martial. Chessani, who was on his third tour in Iraq, provided information about the killings to his chain of command, but prosecutors say he should have been quicker and more complete in explaining the incident.
How the Grayson verdict may influence the Chessani and Wuterich cases is unknown. Military rules prohibit interviews with prosecutors. The Grayson case jurors are not talking.
Chessani's lawyers see the Grayson verdict as a harbringer of what will happen if their client goes to trial: that Marine-jurors with combat experience in Iraq will not second-guess one of their own if it means branding him as a criminal.
I’ll defer to more expert opinions, but my observation is that a finding of not guilty does not necessarily reinstate a man’s good reputation. There would always be those on every promotion board who would look at his record and remember the charge. It’s only human. Besides, he had already made the decision to resign his commission.
Anything yet on the new Helms article?
He needs to be tarred and feathered.
May not be until tomorrow morning. He needs to talk with some people and hasn’t made contact.
Chessani, who was on his third tour in Iraq, provided information about the killings to his chain of command, but prosecutors say he should have been quicker and more complete in explaining the incident.
Does it get any lamer than this?
He is unashamed and arrogantly self-righteously unrepentant.
Expecting him to apologize is naive. He has no integrity or honor.
Hard to imagine anything lamer. I’m praying the Lt Grayson verdict gives Gen Helland the perfect face-saving excuse to drop or at least reduce charges.
I’ve been reading some of the Air Force firings threads.
Apparently, one of the reasons for the firings has to do with these folks going to Congress behind the back of Gates. Think Murtha. We’ve thought that the Service Secty/Service Chief connection exists, but this is a smoking contrail.
Also on one thread:
***The official also pointed to statements of a top Air Force general that directly contradicted what Secretary Gates has said about spending on Air Force F-22s.***
I’m all for honest generals speaking out, but one wonders if this was about “honesty” or treasured contracts?
Murtha = Money
No sale on “reduced charges” - - in fact, Lt. Grayson told the JAGscum the same thing at the very beginning. He wanted to clear his name completely and did so.
Okay, you sold me. Drop charges now.
BTW, wonder if Lt Grayson will get an apology from Gens Mattis and Helland along with his Silver Star?
Murtha was a smart but petty thug at the time of ABSCAM. Like a virus that’s hurt but not killed, Murtha adapted. He learned to go for big scores through the paper labrynth of appropriations. Millions disappear like pocket change and Murtha laughs at the hicks back home who keep sending him back to Congress.
Maybe the worm is turning. His buddies, Bill and Hillary, are washed up. Pray he’s next.
Great; I’ll look forward to it. Again, thank you for your sources and reports.
Still, seems as if Perry has the tone right, and it's no longer "massacre" or "murder". Thanks, Red.
Looks to me like Tony just called combat vets stupid. Just my humble lil’ opinion, though : )
OH YEAH! I promise to bring out the "naked baby dance" WHEN that happens. ;^)
Very interesting.
Thanks for the PINGs!
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