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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
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July 28th,
2007 - Family of Ga. Soldier Prepares for Legal Ordeal |
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Family of Ga.
Soldier Prepares for Legal Ordeal By Jeffry Scott The Atlanta Journal-Constitution July 28, 2007 Winder - The family of the
Georgia soldier charged with the premeditated murder of an Iraqi civilian who
was in custody at the time is preparing for the ordeal ahead as their son
faces a charge that carries with it the death penalty. Debra Kessler, the mother of
Specialist Christopher P. Shore, 25, declined to comment Saturday on the
Army's revelation a day earlier that Shore was following orders when he
allegedly shot a male Iraqi detainee several times. According to the Army, Shore
was directed to shoot the civilian by Sgt. 1st Class Trey A. Corrales, 34, of
San Antonio, who also allegedly shot the man and also has been charged with
premeditated murder. Shore's stepfather, Wally
Kessler, said he talked to Christopher Shore in Iraq since the charges were
brought against Shore and Corrales 10 days ago. "His attitude is
good," Kessler said. The family has yet to talk to Army officials,
however. Instead, they have focused
on retaining a civilian attorney to represent their son and are trying to
raise money for his defense through an e-mail campaign. One attorney has
approached the family offering his services for a $150,000 retainer. Meanwhile, the family has
received an outpouring of support from the community, said Wally Kessler.
Family members said the last time they saw their son was during Christmas
when he was home for three weeks. Shore is on his second
overseas tour. After completing basic training at Fort Benning, he was
assigned to Fort Bragg, Kessler said, then sent to Afghanistan, where he
served for about one year. Shore quit the Army, then rejoined last year. He
has been in Iraq since September 2006, serving duty as a scout, according to
the Army. Shore and Corrales both are
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th
Infantry Regiment, which is part of the 25th Infantry Division based in
Hawaii. They are accused of killing
the civilian detainee on or about June 23 in an area near Kirkuk, Iraq, about
155 miles north of Baghdad. The soldier's commanding officer, Lt. Col.
Michael Browder, was relieved of his command in connection with the investigation,
the Army said. Browder is not a suspect and has not been charged, said base
spokesman Lt. Col. Michael Donnelly. According to the charge
sheet e-mailed to the Journal-Constitution by Donnelly, Shore and Corrales
are accused of violating Article 118 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of death. The charge against Shore
states that "with premeditation murder[ed] a male detainee of apparent
Middle Eastern descent whose name is unknown, by means of shooting him with a
rifle multiple times." In the charge against
Corrales, the Army alleges Corrales shot the detainee himself, then
"directed his subordinate, Specialist Christopher P. Shore, to then
shoot the detainee." The Army said the incident was brought to attention
of higher command by other soldiers in the unit. Lt. Col. Samuel E.
Whitehurst is listed on Shore's charge sheet as his "accuser." The
accusation is signed by Whitehurst and dated July 7, 2007. Capt. Brian E.
Yanowski is listed on Corrales' charge sheet as his accuser. The accusation
is signed July 17, 2007. Victory Kelley, an expert
military defense attorney based in Birmingham, said last week that the
soliders now face an Article 32 investigation, which is roughly the military
equivalent of a grand jury, except that it is not secret. Kelley said the
soldiers have a right to a lawyer and can confront the witnesses against
them. Depending on the finding of
that hearing, Shore and Corrales could face a court martial. The date for the
Article 32 hearing has not been set. Donnelly said last week the
hearing will be in Iraq in "60 to 90 days." Major General Benjamin R.
Mixon, who commands the 25th Infantry Division and Multi-National
Division-North, to which Shore and Corrales are attached, is the
"convening authority" that will make the decision whether they will
go to court martial, Donnelly said. "If it goes to court
martial, it will be held in Hawaii at Schofield Barracks," Donnelly wrote
in an e-mail Saturday. The 25th Infantry Division is based at Schofield
Barracks in Hawaii. External link: http://www.ajc.com/health/content/news/stories/2007/07/28/winder_0729.html |