PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Witness at Navy Seal war crimes trial admits he did it.
Old 1st Jul 2019, 15:09
  #12 (permalink)  
Just This Once...
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 2,164
Received 47 Likes on 23 Posts
A messy case with rather suspect circumstantial evidence. Fortunately there were some independent witnesses outside of the team, including a US Marine, a number of Iraqi troops including a general. All those without any particular axe to grind have testified or provided witness statements that the alleged stabbing never happened.

I make no judgement on those who make personal errors during a dirty conflict. Somehow the USN has given immunity to a brace of accusers who have let their own standards decay well-below acceptable levels and may even have given false testimony. SAS's assessment above, born of experience, is probably on the money - one guy, falsely accused of murder, will be acquitted of the main charges and dismissed for doing exactly the same as those given immunity.

I would be surprised if we see any perjury charges down the line; the USN will just want this to all go away. Meanwhile, sending warfighters away to kill stateless, ruthless, irregular civilian combatants has become even more legally complicated, again.
Just This Once... is offline