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Witness backs accused Marine's story
Saw officer kill 2 Iraqi terrorists who refused stop order
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Posted: February 16, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Art Moore
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A Navy man largely backs Marine Corps Lt. Ilario Pantano's version of the events that led to murder charges for killing two Iraqi insurgents, according to an attorney.
Charles Gittins, who represents Pantano, told WorldNetDaily the Navy man was one of two witnesses, along with the accuser, to the April 15, 2004, incident in which the Marine Corps officer shot the two Iraqis after detaining them in an operation to secure a weapon-laden hideaway in the Sunni Triangle.
The only difference in the two accounts is that the Navy man believes the Iraqis were running away, and Pantano believes they were running toward him, Gittins maintans.
The attorney contends the discrepancy is a matter of visual perspective – where each was standing – and argues the bottom line is the Navy officer corroborates Pantano's claim that the Iraqis disobeyed his order, in Arabic, to stop.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's the end of the game," Gittins said, referring to the question of Pantano's innocence.
The Marine was charged Feb. 1 with two counts of premeditated murder and awaits a March hearing that could lead to a court martial and possibly the death penalty if convicted.
MORE...
About Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano
Saw officer kill 2 Iraqi terrorists who refused stop order
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: February 16, 2005
1:00 a.m. Eastern
By Art Moore
© 2005 WorldNetDaily.com
A Navy man largely backs Marine Corps Lt. Ilario Pantano's version of the events that led to murder charges for killing two Iraqi insurgents, according to an attorney.
Charles Gittins, who represents Pantano, told WorldNetDaily the Navy man was one of two witnesses, along with the accuser, to the April 15, 2004, incident in which the Marine Corps officer shot the two Iraqis after detaining them in an operation to secure a weapon-laden hideaway in the Sunni Triangle.
The only difference in the two accounts is that the Navy man believes the Iraqis were running away, and Pantano believes they were running toward him, Gittins maintans.
The attorney contends the discrepancy is a matter of visual perspective – where each was standing – and argues the bottom line is the Navy officer corroborates Pantano's claim that the Iraqis disobeyed his order, in Arabic, to stop.
"As far as I'm concerned, that's the end of the game," Gittins said, referring to the question of Pantano's innocence.
The Marine was charged Feb. 1 with two counts of premeditated murder and awaits a March hearing that could lead to a court martial and possibly the death penalty if convicted.
MORE...
About Marine Second Lieutenant Ilario Pantano