Charges dropped

In a case that will have the left crying foul; charges were dropped against a marine today in the Haditha case. It was the second person that has had the charges dropped.

Murder charges against a US Marine accused of killing three Iraqi civilians during an alleged massacre in Haditha two years ago have been dropped, the military said on Thursday.

A statement released by the Marines at their Camp Pendleton base in southern California revealed that three charges of unpremeditated murder against Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt had been withdrawn.

The decision was announced in a written ruling from the commander Lieutenant General James Mattis and followed a recommendation from an investigator last month that the charges should be dropped.

"An independent Article 32 investigating officer has considered all the facts and determined that the evidence does not support a referral to court-martial for Lance Corporal Sharratt," Mattis wrote.

"Based on my review of all the evidence in this case and considering the recommendation of the Article 32 officer, I have dismissed the charges." (link)

Investigators basically said that there was no independent confirmation of the charges and they couldn't go through with the case. The government's case was weak to begin with and fell through not long ago.

Justice seems to have been served for the marine, thankfully for him, his family and his comrades.

Filed: Iraq, Marines, murder, Blogpower, LordNazh, BlogPower, LordNazh