Military Loses Key Evidence in Iraqi Death

[Barrett808]

Military Loses Key Evidence in Iraqi Death
By SETH HETTENA, Associated Press Writer

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - The military has lost key evidence in its investigation into the death of an Iraqi man beaten by Marine prison guards, throwing into doubt the status of a court-martial of one of the guards.

The missing evidence includes bones taken from the throat and chest of Nagem Hatab, attorneys said Thursday at a hearing for Maj. Clarke Paulus.

Hatab, 52, died last year at a makeshift camp in Iraq that was run by Marines. He had been rumored to be an official of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s Baath party and part of the ambush of a U.S. Army convoy that killed 11 soldiers and led to the capture of Pfc. Jessica Lynch and five others.

Paulus' court-martial, scheduled to start Monday, was delayed at least a week while the judge presiding over the case ordered prosecutors to try to find the missing bones.

"I'm looking at some extreme measures to make things right," said the judge, Col. Robert Chester. He did not elaborate.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040909/ap_on_re_us/us_iraq_prisoner_death&cid=519&ncid=1480

[mom cat]

1. How about holding them in contemt until the evidence is found!

[Judi Lynn]

2. What a SHOCK! Everyone knows they meant to do the right thing.

I don't know when I'm going to get over this. How could they LOSE evidence? They must be beside themselves!

Hatab's organs, which were removed during autopsy, were subsequently destroyed when they were left for hours in the blazing heat on an Iraqi airstrip. A summary of an interrogation the Marines conducted with Hatab shortly before his death at the camp also is missing, as is a photo of Hatab that was taken during questioning.
(snip)

"This looks bad for our system, for our military justice system, and it's specifically bad for this accused," Higgins said.

The prosecutor, Maj. Leon Francis, conceded that the broken bones are important pieces of evidence in establishing that Hatab was assaulted. Francis acknowledged that his efforts to find them have been unsuccessful.

Paulus, 35, is accused of ordering one of his men to drag Hatab by his neck after the Iraqi suffered a severe bout of diarrhea and lapsed into unconsciousness while in custody at the lockup.

A military pathologist concluded Hatab died from a broken bone in his back and suffered broken ribs on both sides of his body.
(snip)

Who DOESN'T get a little carried away when abusing an unarmed, probably handcuffed person, I want to know?

[tkulesa]

3. The only surprise

Is that this is being reported.

Give them a couple of hours to catch their stride. I'm sure this will disappear and never be mentioned again in the media.

[MO_Dem]

4. How conveeenient!

n/t

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

5. What a fucking surprise. eom