Marine's attorneys lose bid for second trip to Iraq

...statements, which included Hutchins telling [Special Agent James H. Connolly] from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service that he had fired three shots into the dying man's head, were made voluntarily and can be used against him, Meeks ruled.

Ray Girouard's sister Joy speaks out!!

"I've lived and breathed this for 10 months now," Oakes said less than an hour after her return from Fort Campbell.

And she's not finished yet. She said she would do whatever she could to aid her 24-year-old brother in the appeals process.

Monroe County Advocate and Democrat--RAY GIROUARD sentenced to 10 years

“We are overwhelmed about it,” Bentley said. “He was just trying to protect his men. He had about three minutes to decide. He stood by his men. That’s what they got him on.”

White House comments phone line#:

202.456.1111

Email: president@whitehouse.gov

~or~

comments@whitehouse.gov

Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard recommended to serve 10 years

The military panel also recommended a reduction in his rank, a dishonorable discharge and forfeiture of pay, with a recommendation that the money go to his wife and 4-year-old son.

JAG Hunter here: Now the UPRISING IN SWEETWATER, TENNESSEE MUST EXPLODE INTO A NATIONAL UPRISING. THIS OUTRAGE MUST NOT STAND AND CAN BE UNDONE WITH THE STOKE OF A PEN!

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! WE NEED TO LIGHT UP CINC BUSH AND HIS WHITE HOUSE LIKE A PIN-BALL MACHINE!!

So far, this is just a recommendation. It's up to CINC Bush to approve the punishment recommendation. Call the commander-in-chief to voice your outrage and demand Ray's freedom!!!

Then call again, and again, and...

THEN EMAIL CINC BUSH AND DEMAND THESE MILITARY DECISIONS BE EFFACED, THE STAFF SERGEANT RAY GIROUARD BE MADE WHOLE, RESTORED TO HIS RANK, AND RETURNED TO ACTIVE DUTY WHERE HE'S NEEDED AND ABLE TO SERVE OUT HIS HITCH ENDING WITH AN HONORABLE DISCHARGE!!

DO THESE THINGS TODAY! DO THEM NOW!!

Staff Sergeant Girouard Sentenced To 10 Years

MEMBERS NOW DELIBERATING STAFF SERGEANT GIROUARD'S FUTURE!!

Court-martial members ponder punishment recommendation

"You've judged the crime, and now you have to judge the man, said defense attorney Capt. John Merriam.

MARINE LIEUTENANT NATHAN PHAN TO BE COURT-MARTIALED!!

Hamdania lieutenant ordered to court-martial

Lt. Gen. James Mattis, commander of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and all Marines serving in the Middle East, made the decision in the government's case against 2nd Lt. Nathan Phan last week, said Maj. Jeff Nyhart, a Marine Corps spokesman.

RAY GIROUARD'S SENTENCING HEARING

Staff Sergeant Girouard says he made a mistake

A family friend, Bonnie Cleveland, knew the family for 12 years. Girouard smiled from his seat next to his attorneys when Cleveland said she called her own son Ray, because of her close relationship with Girouard.

The Rick Amato Show: The Training Of Staff Sergeant Raymond Girouard

Girouard testified during the trial that he lied to investigators about the slayings to protect his soldiers, and that he never told two of his soldiers, Spc. William Hunsaker and Pfc. Corey Clagett, to kill the detainees.

An out of control United States Army, feeding on its own (think "Soylent Green")...

The thing about Army red tape — it sticks

“According to the rest of the Free World, he’s not in the Army,” said Faulkner, who plans on arguing in court that Miller is a civilian. “We’ve talked to numerous agencies both on and off Fort Carson and as far as we know, none of them show that Reuben Miller is still in the Army.”

VIDEO UPDATE: Sentencing expected Monday for Sweetwater soldier

"It would be one of the big thrills in my life to see Ray standing right here next Sunday morning," says Pastor Orr.

Dublin, IRELAND: Staff Sergeant's Ray Girouard's court-martial

Sergeant Girouard was the last of four soldiers to be tried over the killings during a radi on a suspected insurgent camp near Samarra last year.

Sergeant Girouard's sentencing hearing is set for Monday

Jury spares sergeant accused of ordering Iraqis' deaths

In the private family meeting room at the military courthouse, Girouard hugged and kissed his wife, Melanie Denise, and his 4-year old son, Hunter, according to his sister, Joy Oakes. Oakes helped lead a fundraising drive in the family's hometown of Sweetwater, Tenn., for legal fees.

"It's been a very good day," Oakes said after the verdict.

Fort Drum-10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry): Former 2nd Brigade Combat Team chaplain sentenced 15 March for adultry, and communicating a threat

Soldier Guilty Of Negligent Homicide , But Found Not Guilty Of Premeditated Murder In Killing Of 3 Iraqi Detainees

Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard, 24, smiled as he hugged his defense lawyer and family members after the verdict was read. He faced up to life in prison had he been found guilty of premeditated murder.

Update (2242 hours PDT): It's over. This punishment recommendation handed down within the last hour: Guilty on 3 counts of negligent homicide. 1 count of obstruction of justice. 1 count of not following SOP. This finding carries with it a possible sentence of 21 years. Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, 19 March 2007.

Update (1940 hours PDT): 7 member panel deliberations ongoing and will continue through the night until a recommendation is reached. Two officers (0-6 senior member), two enlisted Rangers, one enlisted infantryman (E-8s-E-9s), one female E-5 or E-6.

Update: Ray's panel got the case at 1645 hours PDT (1845 hours Central). They've been in deliberations for about 1 hour 10 minutes as of this posting

JAG Hunter here:

ACQUIT STAFF SERGEANT RAYMOND GIROUARD!!

Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard takes stand in own defense

The jury will hear closing arguments later today. Then, they'll receive instructions on the charges and begin deliberating.

Staff Sergeant Girouard testifies he didn't order killing detainees


When he saw they were dead, Girouard testified he was shocked and didn't know what to do. He said he knew his soldiers were in big trouble and he had to protect them.

Sweetwater residents support hometown soldier accused in Iraqi murders

Millsaps has been covering this story since the beginning and has grown close to Girouard's family.

"I can't help but, deep down, to root that he's not convicted of this," Millsaps said.

JAG Hunter here: A sharp salute rendered here to Mr. Tommy Millsaps, one of the truly Few Good Men! BRAVO ZULU! (Navyese for "WELL DONE!").

GOVERNMENT SUBORNED PERJURY!

Testimony may help officer charged in Iraqis' deaths

Graber, Hunsaker and Clagett initially lied to investigators, saying the detainees were shot after they attacked Hunsaker and Clagett while trying to escape. The three soldiers have since testified that Girouard ordered the killings and staged a phony crime scene.

Sergeant Girouard denies ordering 3 Iraqis killed

Although Girouard denied ordering the detainees killed, he said the rules of engagement given to him by his commanders were "to kill every military-age male" on the island.

Asked by one of the seven military jurors what he was told to expect on the island, Girouard replied: "An Al Qaeda training camp of 20 known terrorists, sir."

MARINE Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich: Haditha Marine Speaks Publically For First Time « Conservative Thoughts

In an careful, point-by-point examination, a veteran Marine intelligence officer, who was present and monitored the day-long action from its onset, revealed to NewsMax unknown facts either ignored by the NCIS or of which the agency seemed totally unaware.

NCIS's JAMES H. CONNOLLY SIGHTING

Confession of Iraqi's killing admissible, military judge finds

Baker said Hutchins spoke to agents on May 11, then voluntarily decided to speak with them again on May 19.

The prosecutor said the agents gave Hutchins “time to sleep on his statement. It was his decision to talk to them.”

Baker said Hutchins “typed his own five-page, single-spaced statement and initialed all the paragraphs.”

NCIS Special Agent James Connolly testified Feb. 27 that Hutchins came up to him near the spot where the 52-year-old Iraqi was killed and told the agent that his squad “got in a firefight with the guy, he was gurgling for breath and they did a 'dead check' on him.”

The NCIS agent said the sergeant also told him “he put three rounds in the guy's head.”

However, Baker said Hutchins was “caught in a lie by the agents” who told him five of his squad members said the incident happened differently.

Sergeant Girouard denies giving orders to kill detainees

Girouard says he was looking out for the well being of his soldiers.

House: Release report on Tillman death

“How the Army and the Department of Defense handled this investigation is inexcusable,” the House Appropriations Committee says in its report accompanying the supplemental bill. “It has been nearly three years since the beginning of the Army’s investigation and the Tillman family still has no resolution on the death of their son.”

Hutchins' statement to NCIS Special Agent James H. Connolly ruled admissible at trial

In granting prosecutors authority to introduce the statement from Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III at his impending trial for murder, kidnapping and related offenses, the judge turned aside arguments from his attorneys, who earlier this month contended that the statement was obtained illegally.

JAG Hunter here: There now exist in public view two discredited statements personally held under the protection of Supervisory Special Agent James H. Connolly (with many others), and by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and Navy JAG as corrupt, deceitful organizations. The government represents both illicit writings as "voluntary confessions."

At least one editor and two reporters on the North County Times staff are personally alerted to NCIS Agent Conolly's and NCIS/Navy JAGcriminal conduct and yet fail to report what they know, or dig deeper to discover more.

Mark Walker, for example, has become the male print media poster child for incomplete, slanted, biased, and incompetent reportage. The AP's Kristin Hall stands as Walker's contemporary female counterpart in her reports regarding the ongoing court-martial of Army Ranger Staff Sergeant Raymond Girouard. Walker fails to even mention NCIS Agent Connolly in the report linked here while elsewhere, Hall ignored yesterday's bracing testimony revealing the government's case against Ray Girouard is nothing but a Potemkin's Village constructed from the government's suborned perjury (statements forced spoken against self-interest, under extreme duress, coerced from weak men like Corey Clagett).

Also this: Walker insists on fiction suggesting juries are part of the military courts-martial system. Juries are not provided for in martial disciplinary hearings; the word "jury" nowhere appears in the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Military "juries" do not exist.

Here endth the lesson.

The JAG Hunter. Copyright©2007

MORE EVIDENCE OF NCIS CRIMINAL CONDUCT AS STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

One FAA “Red Team” leader and aviation security expert, Bogdan Dzakovic, formerly in the [NCIS], says in an emailed response to questions, “One reason I left [the NCIS] was because investigations would be manipulated to suit whatever political winds were blowing at the time.”

Trial Continues in Death of 3 Iraqis

The attorney for Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard, who is charged with murder, said after court Tuesday that she expected military prosecutors to call Pfc. Juston Graber, the last of three soldiers who have already pleaded guilty in the shootings of three Iraqi detainees.

Staff Sergeant Ray Girouard's court-martial

101st Airborne soldier's murder trial opens

Girouard's civilian attorney, Anita Gorecki, denied that he gave any such order. Two soldiers who actually killed the detainees — "the trigger-pullers," she said — have falsely implicated Girouard in order to receive reduced sentences under plea bargains, she said.

RAY GIROUARD COURT-MARTIAL UPDATE


Defense: Soldier Didn't Order Killings

EXCLUSIVE WSMV-TV NEWS FOOTAGE OF COLONEL MICHAEL STEELE

Tenn. Soldier Set To Go On Trial

JAG Hunter here: Just received a call from Ray's Grandfather alerting me to this breaking story. Hat tip to Ron Bentley.

No One is Above the Law: New DOJ Leadership Needed

As a former senior inspector general in the Department of Defense and someone who has lead and managed federal and international organizations, large and small for over three decades, I know when an agency is poorly led. The FBI and the Justice Department are poorly led. This recent report by the Inspector General of that department shows this fact.

MORE ABOUT A CORRUPT NCIS

An Honest Investigation Would Have Cleared Lieutenant Pantano in Iraq

The Pantano case should have been a devastating embarrassment for the NCIS, perhaps even causing them to reevaluate their methods and mission.

STAFF SERGEANT GIROUARD UPDATE

Soldier Tied to Iraq Attack Faces Trial

"Staff Sgt. Girouard gave no such order," said Anita Gorecki, Girouard's defense attorney. "During their trials in which they pled guilty, (Hunsaker and Clagett) made statements which can only be labeled as fascinating."

Staff Sergeant Girouard's Court-martial begins tomorrow (13 March 2007)

The 24-year-old 101st Airborne Solider faces premeditated murder charges in the shooting deaths of three Iraqi detainees last May during operations at a chemical complex north of Baghdad.

NCIS - DOJ CONNECTION

DOJ Goes Into Damage Control Over Firing of U.S. Attorneys

McKay, Moschella said, devoted too much effort to a regional law enforcement information-sharing network with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, known as LINX.

McKay spent a 'considerable amount of time' pushing the plan, said Moschella, adding that McKay wanted the 'Justice Department to give our Good Housekeeping seal of approval for it.'

McKay told the committee that he had been given the Navy's highest award for the program.

NPR : Tennessee Town Backs GI in Iraqi Murder Case

Girouard's court-martial will begin Monday.

STAFF SERGEANT RAY GIROUARD COURT-MARTIAL UPDATE

Former commander won't testify at soldier's murder trial

"However, defense attorneys for Staff Sgt. Ray Girouard can cross examine other soldiers in the case about whether they believed they were under orders from Col. Michael Steele to kill all military-age Iraqi men."

CNN's story on Ray Girouard airs on their morning show, Friday, 2 March 2007 -- 6:00 - 9:00 a.m.

The Rick Amato Show: CNN To Air Story On Staff Sargent Ray Girouard

NCIS Special Agent Connolly says Hutchins told him he shot dying man three times

"Connolly also acknowledged that the unrelated deaths of 24 civilians at the hands of a different Camp Pendleton unit in the city of Haditha in November 2005 played a role in the Hamdania incident. The Haditha incident became public one month before the Awad killing.

The agent testified that while a Marine colonel said it appeared that the Awad killing was a 'good shoot,' commanders needed to be certain because of the uproar over Haditha.

'With Haditha in the news, he wanted to make sure the right things were done,' Connolly said."