Marine's lawyers denied Iraq visit (Hamdania murder)

[Barrett808]

Marine's lawyers denied Iraq visit
By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO - The Marine Corps turned down a request by defense lawyers who want to visit the Iraqi village where military investigators say seven Marines and a Navy medic kidnapped and murdered a civilian.

The lawyers say they need to see the site and interview locals to rebut Pentagon claims. Photographs by military investigators do not provide enough details, they say.

The Marine Corps told the attorneys that visits to Iraq would be organized only if the murder charges are referred to courts-martial. In coming weeks the charges are to be considered at an Article 32 hearing, similar to a grand jury proceeding, in which a commanding officer will decide whether there is probable cause for a full trial.

"While a site-survey for all involved counsel may become necessary in the future, the expense, security and logistical support required to accomplish a site visit ... are unnecessary at this time," the Marine Corps said in rejecting the request by attorneys Jane L. Siegel and Joseph N. Casas. The denial was issued July 14 but reached the lawyers Wednesday.

Naval Criminal Investigative Service agents allege that on April 26, without provocation, the troops went into the Iraqi town of Hamdania, took 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad from his home, tied him up, put him in a hole and shot him.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060720/ap_on_re_us/marines_iraq_shooting

[acmejack]

1. It's a foregone conclusion that they will refer it to a Courts Martial

They might as well give them their ticket now. I imagine they would like the evidentiary trail to age as long as possible and as the witnesses to disperse to the corners of the Earth to further complicate the defense's already Herculean task.