August 9, 2007

"The Evidence Does Not Support a Referral to a Court-Martial"

So says Lt. Gen. James Mattis when he dropped all charges today against a Marine who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005:

LOS ANGELES (AP) - A general dropped all charges Thursday against a Marine who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005.

"The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial," Lt. Gen. James Mattis wrote in his written decision.

Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt, 22, had been charged with the murder in the deaths of three of those killed after the bomb attack Nov. 19, 2005.

The decision to drop the charges followed an earlier recommendation from a hearing officer who listened to evidence in the case. Under military law, a commanding general has total jurisdiction over a case.

In his recommendation, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said murder charges brought against Sharratt were based on unreliable witness accounts, poor forensic evidence and questionable legal theories.

"The government version is unsupported by independent evidence," Ware wrote in an 18-page report. "To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary."

What's that Mr. Murtha, cold blooded murder, you say? I don't think so.

You tool, you should return your uniform to the Marines, right now, you disgrace.

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