Lance corporal's hearing under way: Closing arguments today in Haditha commander's case

By: Mark Walker North County Times and Wire Reports | Monday, June 11, 2007 10:40 AM PDT ∞

Lance Cpl. Justin I. Sharratt carries documentation into his investigation hearing at Camp Pendleton on Monday.
Don Boomer
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CAMP PENDLETON ---- A lance corporal accused of killing three Iraqi civilians in 2005 was described by his attorney Monday as a heroic Marine and not a murderer.

The attorney, Gary Myers, told a hearing officer that the deaths were the result of a legitimate combat action involving his client, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt. "The forensics in this case dispel entirely the notion that this was an execution," Myers told the hearing officer, Lt. Col. Paul Ware.

"He is not a murderer, he is in fact an extremely brave Marine," Ware said.

Myers' comments came as a hearing got under way in a Camp Pendleton courtroom that will determine whether Sharratt will be ordered to trial on three counts of unpremeditated murder for his role in the incident.

Sharratt is one of three enlisted men facing homicide charges in the deaths of two dozen Iraqi civilians in Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005. Marines there that day said that they were taking small arms fire from houses near the site of the bombing resulting from a subsequent house-clearing operation.

The men from the base's 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment are accused along with four officers from the same battalion who are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to order an investigation into the civilian deaths.

Sharratt, 22, was accompanied into court by his parents, Darryl and Theresa Sharratt.

The hearing is expected to last throughout the week, after which Ware will write a report with his assessment as to whether the evidence warrants ordering Sharratt to trial.

See Tuesday's North County Times for a complete report on Monday's proceedings.

Chessani Case

Defense attorneys for the highest-ranking Marine officer accused in the case, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, are expected to present closing statements Monday in Chessani's own hearing.

An attorney for Capt. Randy Stone, a military lawyer facing charges in the case, said on Saturday that an investigating officer recommended dismissing charges and handling the case administratively.

A final decision will be made by commanding general Lt. Gen. James Mattis.

6 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

AEQUITAS ET VERITAS wrote on Jun 11, 2007 3:21 PM:Drop these silly charges. Cpl Sharratt acted under the stress of combat and was clearing a house from which his unit was taking fire. He was dealing with civilians who don't hestitate to use a child as a suicide bomber or to use any and all tactics they can to kill American soldiers. These are not rules of engagement from World War I where the enemy wears a uniform and flys a flag. This is not Geneva Convention stuff. This is raw combat in Iraq where the enemy is elusive and is blended into the general civilian population and where the enemy respects no rules at all. If during the course of war civilians are killed, that's the price of war. We didn't hesitate during World War II to drop nuclear bombs on the Japanese nor to fire bomb Germany, all resulting in the deaths of thousands upon thousands of civilians, most of who were "innocent." These men deserve our support and should be exonerated and restored to duty.

Dan wrote on Jun 11, 2007 3:52 PM:I'm just glad the U.S. government now takes war crimes so seriously. Remember the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam? The parasites responsible for those killings and rapes served no prison time and the man widely believed to be most responsible for the atrocity, Lt. William Calley, was pardoned by Nixon. I commend the prosecutors who are going after these criminals....Bush and his cronies who started this war based on lies should be tried next.

huh? wrote on Jun 11, 2007 4:39 PM:"He is not a murderer, he is in fact an extremely brave Marine," Ware said. Ware or Myers said this?

MoralyRight1 wrote on Jun 11, 2007 7:56 PM:Another long and terrifying roller coaster ride ahead for this Lance Corporal and his family. The UCMJ has a built in armor that is bomb-proof to normal, logical defense under civilian law. This should never be happening.

Al wrote on Jun 11, 2007 8:33 PM:War is a nasty endeavor and nasty things happen. I'm just thankful that all these officers that are more concerned with covering their [butts] rather than winning battles and taking care of their men weren't around during WWII. If they had been, we would probably be speaking Germn or Japanese; futhermore, we would still be having trials because some civilian was accidently wasted.

What!!! wrote on Jun 12, 2007 10:55 AM:How come other Marines that also killed inncocent people are not being put through this?? just like he said he felt threatend I would of done the same

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