Investigator Recommends Dropping Charges on Haditha Marine

The investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against Marine LCpl. Justin Sharratt accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in Haditha, Iraq.

Image From Defend Our Marines

Sharratt is one of the marines accused of killing “innocent” Iraqis “in cold blood” by anti-military, antiwar Rep. John Murtha.

What say you now, “In Cold Blood”, John Murtha?

Murtha, “They went into houses and killed women and children… in cold blood!”

The investigating officer recommended dismissing “incredible” murder charges against LCpl. Justin Sharratt in the slayings of three Iraqi men in Haditha, Iraq.
War Chronicle described the charges against LCpl. Justin L. Sharratt:

LCpl. Justin L. Sharratt Article 32 Fact Sheet

Fact sheet
The accused, LCpl. Justin Sharratt was 21-years-old at the time of the incident, and was on his second combat tour. In 2004, Sharratt fought in the “House from Hell” in Fallujah.

Preferred Charges and Specifications:
Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 118 (Unpremeditated murder)
(Maximum punishment: such punishment other than death as a court-martial may direct. [Dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, confinement for life])

Specification 1: did murder Jasib Aiad Ahmed.
Specification 2: did murder Kahtan Aiad Ahmed.
Specification 3: did murder Jamal Aiad Ahmed.

Investigating officer: Lt. Col. Paul J. Ware.

Convening authority: Lt. Gen. James Mattis, commanding general for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Forces Central Commander for Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa.

Prosecutors: Maj. Daren Erickson, Capt. Christopher Hur

Defense counsel: Gary Myers (civilian attorney), Major Brian Cosgrove (USMCR, detailed defense council).

The conclusion of the investigation was reported on Tuesday.
FOX News reported:

An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.

The government’s theory that Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt had executed the three men was “incredible” and relied on contradictory statements by Iraqis, Lt. Col. Paul Ware said in the report, released Tuesday by Sharratt’s defense attorneys.

“To believe the government version of facts is to disregard clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and sets a dangerous precedent that, in my opinion, may encourage others to bear false witness against Marines as a tactic to erode public support of the Marine Corps and mission in Iraq,” Ware wrote. (Ya think?)

Defense attorneys James Culp and Gary Myers said in a statement that he was pleased with the report and that it “reflected the value of the calm of a courtroom and the adversarial process.”

Sharratt’s mother Theresa said she was overjoyed.

“This is a huge result, that report is a declaration of Justin’s innocence,” she said. “This is very, very good news.”

War Chronicle also has the mainstream media’s account of the events in Haditha.


Do you suppose any of the media outlets will beg forgiveness for slandering this marine?

Prairie Pundit has more on the remaining cases.
More at Democracy Project.

Previously:
Now, Murtha Blames Marines for Mass Slaughter of Innocent Iraqis!
Democrats Make Leap From Anti-War to Anti-Military
John Murtha Says “Cold Blooded Murder” Tops Naked Pyramid
A Soldier’s Thoughts on Haditha
In Iraq, It’s Only a “Massacre” When It Involves Marines
John Murtha… Here is Your Cold Blooded Killer!
Woops!! It Wasn’t a Cold Blooded Marine Massacre Afterall!
The Speech George Bush Ought to Give on Haditha
Is Haditha a Hoax?
Were Kalishnikovs Used to Kill the People of Haditha?
More on the Bogus Haditha Human Rights Group
Obama Backs Murtha’s “Cold Blooded Murder” Remarks (Video)
Marines Will Sue John Murtha for Defamation of Character
Murtha Is Caught Lying About His “Cold Blooded” Source
John Murtha
Is Caught in a “Cold Blooded” Haditha Lie

Murtha Owes All Marines an Apology for His Slander!
Haditha Prosecutors Admit Their Case Is Weak
Haditha Bombshell!
The Collapsing Haditha Case
Haditha Case Continues to Crumble
Murtha About To Get Pummeled By the Haditha Truth

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Jim Hoft is the founder and editor of The Gateway Pundit, one of the top conservative news outlets in America. Jim was awarded the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award in 2013 and is the proud recipient of the Breitbart Award for Excellence in Online Journalism from the Americans for Prosperity Foundation in May 2016. In 2023, The Gateway Pundit received the Most Trusted Print Media Award at the American Liberty Awards.

You can email Jim Hoft here, and read more of Jim Hoft's articles here.

 

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