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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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September 13th, 2006 - Officer
Says Marine Should Stand Trial |
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Officer Says Marine Should
Stand Trial By Thomas Watkins The Associated Press September 13, 2006; 10:52 PM San Diego - An investigating
officer recommended a court martial for a Marine accused of participating in
the kidnapping and murdering of an Iraqi civilian, an attorney said
Wednesday. The officer reviewed
evidence from a preliminary hearing last month and said there was probable
cause for Pfc. John J. Jodka III to stand trial, according to one of Jodka's
attorneys, Joseph Casas. Seven Marines and one Navy
corpsman are accused of kidnapping 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad, taking
him to a roadside hole and shooting him to death April 26 in Hamdania, west
of Baghdad. A commanding general will
make the final decision about a court martial. On Tuesday, a military
prosecutor said the government will not seek the death penalty against
another Marine charged in the case, Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr. Shumate
is suspected of firing his M-16 at Awad, then lying to investigators about
what had happened, according to charging documents. A commanding general also
will make a decision about whether Shumate will face a court-martial. Defense attorneys have
questioned the credibility of the Iraqis who reported the killing to U.S.
authorities. So far, three Marines have faced preliminary hearings in the
case, and other hearings are scheduled in the coming weeks. © 2006 The Associated Press External link:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/09/13/AR2006091302351.html |