Fallujah Marine jailed for refusing to testify

[unhappycamper]

Fallujah Marine jailed for refusing to testify
By Greg Risling - The Associated Press
Posted : Friday Jun 13, 2008 10:30:04 EDT

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A Marine charged with murder in the 2004 death of an Iraqi detainee during combat operations in Fallujah was jailed Thursday for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury.

Sgt. Ryan G. Weemer’s attorney told the judge that his client opted not to testify for fear of self-incrimination. The sergeant did not speak before U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Larson found him in contempt of court.

Weemer, of Hindsboro, Ill., can be held for up to 18 months unless he decides to testify or until the grand jury is excused. He was to be held at either a federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles or a San Bernardino County jail.

Grand jury proceedings are secret and there was no mention in court of what it is investigating. It is known through military justice proceedings, however, that a grand jury is investigating Weemer’s former squad member Jose Nazario.

Federal prosecutors in Riverside have charged Nazario with voluntary manslaughter in the killing of two Iraqi captives in Fallujah. Nazario, 27, a former sergeant, has pleaded not guilty.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_weemer_061308/

[1monster]

1. Doesn't the Fifth Amendment apply here? Or does the subpoenaed

witness have to appear and invoke the Fifth in person?