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The War Profiteers - War Crimes,
Kidnappings, Torture and Big Money |
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June 25th,
2008 - Marine Jailed for Refusing to Testify in Iraq Case |
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Marine Jailed
for Refusing to Testify in Iraq Case By Associated Press June 25, 2008 Riverside, Calif. - For the
second time in two weeks, a Marine accused of killing an unarmed detainee in
Fallujah, Iraq was jailed for refusing to testify about a former squadmate. Sgt. Jermaine A. Nelson was
jailed on Tuesday for contempt of court and could be held for up to 18
months. Nelson is among three
Marines accused of shooting unarmed captives in November 2004 during some of
the heaviest fighting of the war. The Marine clasped his hands behind his
back before marshals led him away. "There are few things
that give me less pleasure," U.S. District Judge Stephen Larson said.
"I have a profound respect for his service to our country. ... Everyone
in this courtroom is indebted to him." Another judge ordered
Nelson, 26, of New York, to testify before a federal grand jury investigating
Sgt. Jose Nazario, a former Marine charged in the killings of two Iraqi
captives. Nazario faces trial on Aug. 19. Nelson's attorney, Joseph H.
Low IV, argued that the testimony might later be used against his client, who
is facing a military trial on charges of unpremeditated murder in the killing
of an unarmed detainee and dereliction of duty. He could face life in prison
if convicted of those charges. Nelson was jailed for
contempt in May for eight days but a Los Angeles judge ordered his release
after Nelson agreed to listen to the grand jury questions. Prosecutors say the Marines
from Camp Pendleton captured and killed men they believed had been shooting
at them during fierce house-to-house fighting in Fallujah. The investigation began
after Ryan Weemer, a former corporal from the squad, took a lie-detector test
for a Secret Service job. He allegedly described the killings when he was
asked whether he had participated in a wrongful death. Nazario, 28, of Riverside,
was charged after leaving the Marines, so the case is being handled by
federal rather than military prosecutors. After Tuesday's hearing, Low
said Nelson was ready to serve jail time rather than testify. "I told him, if he
makes this decision, be prepared to do 18 months," Low said. On June 12, Larson ordered
Weemer jailed for contempt for refusing to testify to the grand jury. He is
at the San Bernardino County Central Detention Center. Weemer's attorney also
argued that the testimony might incriminate him during his military trial for
murder and dereliction of duty. The judge, however, said a
U.S. Supreme Court precedent involving compelled testimony by law enforcement
personnel against their officers prevents military prosecutors from using the
Marines' testimony. Nelson was given immunity
for whatever he said to the grand jury, the judge said. Copyright © 2008 The
Associated Press. External link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gJBGkERPk8ZiV1rYMiNrLa2yvSpgD91H9NVO0 |