Lt. Watada facing DOUBLE JEOPARDY!

[annabanana]

http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/448/1/

The Army appears ready to retry First Lt. Ehren Watada a week from now—Tuesday, October 9—at Fort Lewis, Washington. As scheduled, the retrial will be heard by the same military judge that orchestrated the February mistrial in order to give the prosecution a “do-over” after they rested their case against the first officer to publicly refuse to deploy to Iraq.(http://www.couragetoresist.org/x/content/view/250/39/)

Supporters of Lt. Watada and GI resisters are being urged to take action to highlight double jeopardy outrage!

Michael Wong, a member of the Watada Support Committee and Veterans for Peace, is working hard to mount a public response.

Mike Wong states:

This is in gross violation of law and the Constitution, because his lawyers have appealed against a second trial on the basis of double jeopardy. For quite some time, Ehren's lawyers were proceeding on the assumption that since the appeal is in progress in the court system, the Army would cancel or postpone the October 9th court martial. But now it is only a week away, and nothing has been canceled or postponed. The trial is looking very much like it is on.

[flashl]

1. If they can. They will make an example of him.

Military courts are notorious for their “kangaroo” status.

First Lt. Ehren Watada represents the beginning of the end for the Iraq war. IMHO dissent within the military ranks will "strike the root" and end the Iraq war.

[Freddie Stubbs]

2. Doesn't Double Jeopardy only apply if the defendant is acquitted?

I was of the understanding that the first trial ended in a mistrial.

[ellacott]

3. I thought that's how it worked also n/t

[Recursion]

4. It depends

Jeopardy attaches in different ways and at different times.

[ellacott]

5. Ok, thanks :)