Clean Sweep, Three For Three

Justice is served.

Not guilty verdict in Navy SEAL case

A military jury in Virginia found a Navy SEAL not guilty Thursday on charges of punching a suspected Iraqi terrorist.

Jurors deliberated about an hour and 40 minutes before returning their verdict in the court-martial of Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe.

The 24-year-old Perrysburg, Ohio, man was tried at Naval Station Norfolk on accusations of assaulting Ahmed Hashim Abed, who is suspected of plotting the 2004 slayings of four U.S. contractors in Fallujah.

The prosecution’s key witness had testified he saw McCabe deliver a right cross to Abed’s midsection. However, several defense witnesses contradicted portions of that testimony.

A Navy prosecutor said in closing arguments that SEALs were trying to protect one of their own.

“They circled the wagons,” said Lt. Cmdr. Jason Grover. “They don’t want Petty Officer McCabe to be held responsible for this.”

A defense lawyer said he found that suggestion offensive.

Several defense witnesses contradicted the testimony of Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin DeMartino, who said he saw McCabe slug the detainee in the stomach. Those witnesses also testified that McCabe, a decorated SEAL, was known for strong character, integrity and truthfulness.

“Don’t be blinded by medals,” Grover told the jury. “Everyone is equally accountable to do the right thing.”

Defense attorney Haytham Faraj said the prosecution was asking the jury to take the word of a terrorist and a sailor who admitted initially lying about the incident over the testimony of numerous other witnesses.

See also:
Navy SEAL McCabe Found Not Guilty
Navy SEAL found not guilty of assaulting suspected terrorist
Va. military jury finds Navy SEAL not guilty
Navy SEAL Found Not Guilty of Assaulting a Suspected Terrorist
SEAL found not guilty of assaulting suspected Iraqi terrorist
Navy Seal Matthew McCabe Found Not Guilty!
BREAKING: Navy SEAL McCabe Found Not Guilty
Navy Seal Matthew McCabe Not Guilty on All Counts
But Did They Read The Terrorist His Miranda Rights?
Who Does He See To Get His Reputation Back?
Two Down, One To Go

So, the prosecution’s case was so weak that they lost all three times and none of the triers of fact took very long to render a not guilty on all counts result in any of the cases, the word of decorated SEALs versus the word of a terrorist trained to lie, no brainer. It kind of makes one wonder why the Navy insisted on pursuing these bogus charges in the first place?

/could it have been because of unlawful command influence?