Cleared: Charges dropped against Haditha Marine Stephen Tatum

I believe Savage has focused on the case involving LtCol Chessani, who remains in legal jeopardy – though not much, one might surmise, given how the Haditha “case” has imploded, and then some. Recall that other charges against other defendants were not just dropped entirely, but that the reviewing officer wrote scathing criticisms of the prosecution and the whole process.

The Chessani case involves Murtha as well – one of his counsel said somewhere that they have new deposition info from former USMC commandant Hagee about how Murtha was briefed on the case. Among the astonishing and infuriating and appalling things – now beyond number since 9/11 – we can add that Murtha wasn’t immediately censured, for two reasons. One, the obvious one, has been “discussed” above. The other reason is one the Chessani defense wants to use in his case: improper command influence. I’m no lawyer or JAG officer, but I recall literally not believing what I heard Murtha saying, on national TV and in print, because of the possible implications for undue command influence, a unique and critical element in military justice.

So far the Marines involved seem to be receiving exoneration on the merits (with perhaps Wuterich the only exception?). But Murtha’s behavior was even more outrageous and irresponsible than most people thought, and might in the end actually affect the courts martial.

IceCold on March 28, 2008 at 8:19 PM