Haditha Update: SSgt Wuterich Article 32 Day 1 and 2

During the first day of testimony, the prosecution called LCpl Humberto Mendoza to the witness stand. LCpl Mendoza testified that he never saw SSgt Wuterich kill any Iraqis inside either of the two home, that 19 November 2005, in the town of Haditha, Iraq. LCpl Mendoza finished his testimony by stating “I think he’s [...]

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Haditha Update: LtCol Jeffrey Chessani Additional Charges

After having his Article 32 investigation reopened, two additional charges for dereliction of duty have been add against Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Chessani. LtCol Chessani was the battalion commander of the Marines involved in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Hadita, Iraq.
The Investigating Officer, Col Conlin, in LtCol Chessani’s case had originally recommended three charges [...]

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Haditha Update: Article 32 Investigation for Sgt Frank Wuterich

The Article 32 investigation for Sgt Frank Wuterich, USMC, is set to begin on 30AUG07 aboard Camp Pendleton. LtCol Ware will be the investigating officer. LtCol Ware was the investigating officer for LCpl Stephen B. Tatum and and LCpl Justin L. Sharratt, in both cases he recommended no charges.
Sgt Wuterich’s lawyer, Neal Puckett, a retired [...]

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Haditha Update: SJA Recuses Himself After Criticizing LtCol Ware

The Staff Judge Advocate, SJA, – the senior legal adviser, roughly equivalent to in-house counsel for a business – for LtGen Mattis removed himself form the case of LCpl Tatum. The SJA, LtCol Bill Riggs, contacted LtCol Ware and criticized him for holding the government to too high of a standard [...]

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Haditha Update: No Charges for Capt Stone and LCpl Sharratt

In a very pleasing announcement, there will be no criminal charges brought against Capt Randy Stone and LCpl Justin Sharratt.  LtGen Mattis announced his decision on 9AUG07.  For more on Haditha click here.

yojoe out

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Haditha Update: Article 32 Investigation for LtCol Chessani to Reopen

The Article 32 investigation into the actions of LtCol Chessani will be reopened on 8AUG07. The purpose of the hearing is to conduct further examination of evidence submitted during the original investigation in May 2007. The prosecutors recommended, to LtGen Mattis, that two additional charges of dereliction of duty [...]

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Haditha Update: Wired Magazine Reports Use of Live Internet Video

Wired is reporting on the use of a live two-way video stream during testimony in the Article 32 investigations of Marines charged with murder in Haditha, Iraq. Wired does a good job of explaining the technology, but falls a bit short on the law. The hearings held for the Marines are all Article 32 investigations [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 the Final Day

In the final day of the Article 32 investigation into LCpl Tatum’s role in the action in Haditha, Iraq, both the prosecution and defense gave their respective summations of the case. The defense emphasized that,
You can’t sit back in an air-conditioned room at Camp Pendleton and second-guess these men. It’s [...]

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Haditha Update: LCp Tatum’s Article 32 Days 6 and 7

LCpl Tatum testified that he did not “know that there was women and children in that house until later . . . otherwise, I would have physically stopped everyone in that room from shooting.” This testimony came during his unsworn statement during an Article 32 investigation in his actions in [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 Day 5

As the investigation moved into its fifth day Special Agent Micheal Maloney, of NCIS, was called as a witness by the prosecution. SA Maloney testified that 17 bullets had been fired by the Marines that day at Haditha, Iraq. The women were killed first and the children were shot [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 Day 4

As the investigation into Marine LCpl Tatum and his role in the killings at Haditha, Iraq, the testimony turned to the forensics. Lt.Col. Elizabeth Rouse, USAF, a forensic pathologist and medical examiner, testified that she was not able to view the bodies, and she was only able to look at photographs. The photographs were taken [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 Day 3

As the investigation into LCpl Tatum’s actions at Haditha continued, agents of NCIS were called as witnesses. NCIS Special Agent Matthew Marshall testified about his interrogation of LCpl Tatum, stating that LCpl Tatum was remorseful when he explained that he had identified targets as women and children. At that [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 Day 2

On 17 July 2007, the Article 32 Investigation of LCpl Tatum entered its second day. LCpl Humberto Mendoza, a fellow memeber of 3/1, testified aginst LCpl Tatum. LCpl Mendoza recounted how he told LCpl Tatum that there were only women and childern in the room and later retuned to [...]

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Haditha Update: Investigating Officer’s Report ICO LCpl Justin L. Sharratt

This is a copy of LtCol Ware’s report into charges against LCpl Sharratt. Here is an excerpt:
Finally, to believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others [...]

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Haditha Update: LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 Day 1

16Jul07 is day one of LCpl Tatum’s Article 32 investigation. Given the success that Cpl Sharratt had with LtCol Ware as his Article 32 investigator, it appears that LCpl Tatum’s lawyers are using a similar tactic:

Use of deadly force was the proper response
LCpl Tatum was following the orders of his [...]

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