Witness in Marine's Case Granted Immunity

[Barrett808]

Witness in Marine's Case Granted Immunity
By WILLIAM L. HOLMES, Associated Press Writer

CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - A key prosecution witness in the case of a Marine accused of murdering two Iraqi detainees was granted immunity, clearing the way for a hearing to resume Saturday.

Charles Gittins, a defense attorney for 2nd Lt. Ilario Pantano, said Saturday that his immunity request was granted for the witness, Marine Sgt. Daniel Coburn, clearing the way for the defense to finish its cross-examination.

The request had halted Pantano's pretrial hearing for a day.

Coburn testified earlier this week that Pantano had been instructed to release the prisoners that Pantano eventually shot in the back.

But Coburn abruptly left the stand Wednesday when he was told he was suspected of violating orders forbidding him from giving interviews about the case. He told Marine officials he wouldn't return unless he was granted immunity from prosecution, and came back briefly Friday only to invoke his right to avoid incriminating himself.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050430/ap_on_re_us/marine_iraq_death

[Judi Lynn]

1. Thanks for posting this article. The trial continues today, apparently.

It would really be wrong for Patano to walk away from this, after shooting someone in the back and claiming it was self-defense.

From the article:

Pantano, a former Wall Street trader who rejoined the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks, has acknowledged shooting the two Iraqis during an April 2004 search outside a suspected terrorist hideout in Iraq. But he says he acted in self-defense when they moved toward him in a threatening manner.

The Article 32 hearing, the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury, will determine whether Pantano, 33, will face a court-martial. If convicted of murder, he could get the death penalty.