|
The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
|
May 30th,
2008 - Judge Releases Marine Jailed for Refusing to Talk News article by the Associated
Press |
|
Judge Releases
Marine Jailed for Refusing to Talk By Chelsea J. Carter Associated Press May 30, 2008 Camp Pendleton, Calif. - A
Marine jailed after refusing to give grand jurors testimony about a comrade
charged with killing unarmed captives in Iraq was released Thursday after he
agreed to hear the panel's questions. U.S. District Judge Percy
Anderson released Sgt. Jermaine A. Nelson from federal detention in Los
Angeles after Nelson agreed to hear questions from the grand jury
investigating Jose Nazario, a former sergeant charged in the killings of two
captured insurgents, Nelson's attorney Joseph Low said. "There are just some
questions he is not going to be able to answer," Low said. Anderson found Nelson in
contempt of court last week. Nelson and Nazario are
charged in the case, which centers on allegations that a Marine squad shot a
group of unarmed captives during heavy fighting in November 2004 in Fallujah,
Iraq, during some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Low said Nelson likely will
be arraigned within the next couple of weeks on military charges of
unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. Nazario, 27, has been
charged with one count of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two
captives and is scheduled to be tried in July. The former sergeant faces
charges in federal court because he has completed his military service. Low said Anderson ordered
the grand jury to reconvene by June 18. Low said one reason prosecutors are
reconvening the grand jury is to try to get Nelson to testify against
Nazario. Thom Mrozek, a spokesman for
the U.S. attorney's office, said he could not comment because the filings in
the case are under seal. Prosecutors say the Marines
captured men they believed had been shooting at them and killed them. The investigation began
after Ryan Weemer, a former corporal from the squad, took a lie-detector test
for a Secret Service job. He described the killings when he was asked if he
had participated in a wrongful death. Weemer, of Hindsboro, Ill., is charged
with murder and dereliction of duty. The Marines were part of
Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Copyright © 2008 The
Associated Press. External link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gJBGkERPk8ZiV1rYMiNrLa2yvSpgD90VL3S80 Judge releases
Marine jailed in L.A. for contempt The serviceman who had refused to answer questions about the alleged
killing of prisoners in Iraq agrees to attend a grand jury session. By Scott Glover & Tony Perry Los Angeles Times May 30, 2008 Marine Sgt. Jermaine A.
Nelson, jailed in Los Angeles last week for contempt of court for refusing to
testify against his former squad leader about the alleged killing of Iraqi
prisoners, was released Thursday after promising to attend a grand jury
session and listen to questions. Joseph Low, Nelson's
attorney, said his client promised U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson that he
would attend a June 18 session of the grand jury, which is investigating the
deaths of prisoners during the fight for Fallouja in late 2004. Nelson, 26, did not promise
to provide information about former Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario, Low said. "I
did inform the judge [that] nothing has changed except our willingness to
listen," he said. Anderson had Nelson jailed
last week when, despite receiving immunity, he declined to answer questions
about "a brother Marine." Low said Nazario had saved Nelson's life
in Iraq. Nazario, now a civilian, is
charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter. Trial is set for July 8 in
federal court in Riverside. Nelson has been charged in the military system
with unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. He remains on active duty
at Camp Pendleton. Nelson's fiancee and a dozen
Marines and other supporters waited outside the courtroom, which was closed
because a grand jury proceeding was at issue. By law, grand juries meet in
secret. Anderson declined a request
from The Times to delay Thursday's session so one of the newspaper's
attorneys could argue against excluding the public. Marine Gunnery Sgt. James
Griffin, stationed at Twentynine Palms, said outside the courtroom that he
was angry that the Marine Corps had not backed Nelson's refusal. "They teach us 'you never
leave your brothers behind,'" Griffin said, "but he's all by
himself right now. ... We give our lives to the Corps - now this Marine is
fighting for his." The jailing of Nelson two
days before the Memorial Day weekend prompted angry website posts by Marines
and supporters. Court documents suggest that
the Marines said they had to make a split-second decision: either take time
to process prisoners according to the rules or rush to the aid of Marines
pinned down in a firefight. Nazario allegedly told
Marines under his command to "take care of them" so the unit could
support fellow Marines. Nazario, according to court documents, had informed a
senior Marine over the telephone that they had taken prisoners while clearing
houses during the fight for the insurgent stronghold in Anbar province. According to the documents,
the following conversation allegedly took place: "Are they dead
yet?" Nazario was asked by the Marine. "Negative,"
Nazario responded. The other Marine, who has not been identified, then said,
"Make it happen," according to the documents. In court, Nelson appeared
subdued. When Anderson ordered him jailed eight days earlier, Nelson was
wearing a Marine uniform. When he appeared Thursday, he was in jail garb and
shackled. "It's hard on him; I'm
not going to lie about it," Low said. A third Marine, Sgt. Ryan
Weemer, is also charged in military court with unpremeditated murder. Weemer,
25, had left active duty but was still in the reserves. He allegedly
disclosed the killings while being interviewed for a job with the Secret
Service. That launched an investigation by the FBI and the Naval Criminal
Investigative Service. Weemer was recalled to
active duty so he could be charged by the military. Outside the courtroom,
retired Marine Gerald Johnson, now a chaplain with the Oceanside Police
Department, said charging the Marines could make other Marines hesitate to
take action during combat for fear of being second-guessed later by
prosecutors. Another supporter, Joyce
Glanza, said it was wrong to pull Nelson into a civilian courtroom.
"It's not a jury of your peers anymore; it's a totally different thing." External link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-marine30-2008may30,0,6373008.story |