Lawyers cite concerns in Iraq murder case

[Barrett808]

Lawyers cite concerns in Iraq murder case
By Adam Tanner

CAMP PENDLETON, California (Reuters) - Lawyers for two U.S. Marines accused of murdering an Iraqi civilian expressed concern on Wednesday over their clients' ability to get a fair trial and one criticized a pretrial hearing as a "rubber-stamping process."

...

The accused troops allegedly shot 52-year-old disabled Hashim Ibrahim Awad after dragging him from his home, then planted an AK-47 assault rifle and a shovel next to his body to make it appear he was an insurgent placing a roadside bomb.

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Jodka attorney Joseph Casas criticized the hearing before it started. "Chances are this will be a rubber-stamping process," he said.

Another of his attorneys, Jane Siegel, complained that his right to a fair trial would be jeopardized by the disclosure of details given in written and videotaped statements by witnesses.

"When the cat is out of the bag and the bell is rung there is no way to get evidence out of a juror's head," Siegel said. "To openly discuss the contents of the statement will completely pollute a local and national pool."

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060830/ts_nm/iraq_usa_marines_dc

[ShockediSay]

1. But this is effectively a military grand jury proceeding B4 court martial

not like you're anticipating some jury pool culled from the general public (assuming it gets to a court martial)