Judge Declares Mistrial in Lt Watada Case

Lt. Ehren Watada accused of missing movement, conduct unbecoming

FORT LEWIS, Wash. - The judge overseeing the court-martial of an Army lieutenant who refused to deploy to Iraq declared a mistrial Wednesday, saying the soldier did not fully understand a document he signed admitting to elements of the charges.

First Lt. Ehren Watada was fighting charges of conduct unbecoming an officer and missing movement for refusing to leave last June with his unit, the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division.

Earlier Wednesday, before his declaration, Lt. Col. John Head, the military judge, said the case could end in a mistrial if Watada’s lawyers refused to let the defendant answer the judge’s questions about potential inconsistencies with a “stipulation of fact” that Watada agreed to before the trial began.