Lawyer: Charges dropped against Marine

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

Lawyer: Charges dropped against Marine
By THOMAS WATKINS, Associated Press Writer

SAN DIEGO - Military prosecutors have agreed to withdraw criminal charges against a Marine accused of beating of Iraqi detainees in exchange for testimony against three subordinates, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Marine 2nd Lt. Nathan P. Phan will acknowledge the assault at a less-serious administrative hearing and has agreed to testify against three Marines under his command who are accused of killing an Iraqi man. Phan is not accused in the slaying.

Phan, 26, is accused of beating, choking and threatening two men in March or April 2006 in the town of Hamdania during an interrogation.

Attorney David Sheldon said Phan will "accept responsibility for his actions" and "testify truthfully" against the three Marines in his platoon.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070501/ap_on_re_us/marine_iraq_assault

[mike_c]

1. if he was in command doesn't he ultimately have responsibility...?

I wonder why they're giving him a pass to testify against the marines under his command instead of the other way around?

[FatDave]

2. No, it's what we've been saying all along

"I'll bet we can follow this all the way down the chain of command"

:sarcasm: