No More Jail For Marine Who Killed Iraqi

Marine Who Killed Iraqi Soldier Gets Bad-Conduct Discharge, But No More Time Behind Bars

(AP)  A Marine reservist who killed an Iraqi soldier was sentenced Friday to a bad-conduct discharge but will serve no more time behind bars, a spokeswoman said.

Lance Cpl. Delano Holmes, 22, of Indianapolis, also was reduced in rank to private, said 1st Lt. Lisa Lawrence.

Holmes, who spent 10 months in the brig, could have faced up to eight more years of confinement.

A Marine jury convicted him Thursday of negligent homicide and of making a false official statement in the Dec. 31, 2006, stabbing death of Pvt. Munther Jasem Muhammed Hassin in Fallujah. Jurors acquitted him of unpremeditated homicide, which carried a potential life sentence.

Holmes remained at the base after Friday's verdict but could not immediately be reached for comment, Lawrence said.

Holmes' attorney, Steve Cook, claimed the Marine acted in self-defense after Hassin allegedly opened his cell phone and then lit a cigarette. Cook told jurors the men were not supposed to display any illuminated objects because of the threat of sniper fire, and Holmes tried repeatedly to get Hassin to extinguish the cigarette.

Prosecutors rejected the self-defense claims, saying Hassin suffered 17 stab wounds, 26 slashes and a chop to the face that nearly severed his nose, while Holmes was not injured.

Holmes told investigators that he fought with Hassin after knocking the cigarette from the soldier's hand. He said he felt Hassin reaching for his loaded AK-47, so he stabbed him with a bayonet that doubles as a utility knife that was attached to his jacket, Cook has said.

The prosecutor, Capt. Brett Miner, argued that Holmes fired Hassin's weapon after killing him to make it appear the attack was self-defense.

Holmes enlisted in the Marine reserves in May 2004 and was on his first deployment in Iraq, Cook said. He is from the 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, based out of Lansing, Mich.

[speakinup]

"People who put Marines in this position need to be put to death after a fair trial! Sieg Heil Bush!!
Posted by MCVet

Yup - not all folks can''t cut it. Some do what this guy did, and then there are others like McVet, who are just driven crazy. Not that it is his fault, but the guy needs to seek professional help.

[neoconrcrazy]

it just confirms what we''ve learned from our neocon "leaders", that is, an iraqi life is worthless.

[excoachken]

In order to kill someone in battle, the military has to teach recruits that the other person is sub-human, otherwise YOU would be the sub-human. So, this guy, training and brainwashed into this racist philosophy kills a person who walks and talks like the "sub-human" he has been trained to hate. Then, they put him on trial, in front of a jury, made up of people, each of whom has gone through the same style brain washing and has become a highly rated "killing machine." So, what kind of verdict would you expect? Problem Solved!!!!!!!!!

[mcvet]

These men and women are trained to be killing machines, do you get the point? It''''s a sad situation for everyone, but it''''s war. Obviously, he snapped. Hopefully he will get some professional help. Grant you he did go to the extreme, but he probably saved a whole bunch of marines from sniper fire. That lit cigg could have given out their location.


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Posted by bb19631 at 06:00 AM : Dec 15, 2007
+ report abuse

As a Marine who has ACTUALLY been there I agree with part of what you say... Marines are NOT trained to be policemen though and putting them in this position and starting a war for no reason, is the real issues we have to deal with. After 6 years and a mountain of debt we see our Military at the breaking point and the people who planned and carried out the attacks against us completely rebuilt. Those that produced that kind of results from 9/11 need to be held accountable... People who put Marines in this position need to be put to death after a fair trial! Sieg Heil Bush!!

[tomtomasters]

How do you get justice when obviously the military court is going to favor their guy at a time of war. Who is to say he was lit with a Cigarette. Maybe Holmes the stabber was lit. Pretty lame excuse, when fighting and yelling can cause more of a ruckus to give away your position than a cigarette. Lot''s of troopers cup their hands. And even if there was a glow, it could be a firefly, or insurrgents thinking other insurrgents were over there. Hell if Colin Powell can get away with it, and Lieutenant Cally just give him a beer and let him go. That''s the American way. Kill and have a picnic... pass the mustard Sarg...want a dog? ugh is that dog dung on your zipper? What have you been doing Holmes?

[bb19631]

These men and women are trained to be killing machines, do you get the point? It''s a sad situation for everyone, but it''s war. Obviously, he snapped. Hopefully he will get some professional help. Grant you he did go to the extreme, but he probably saved a whole bunch of marines from sniper fire. That lit cigg could have given out their location.

[brianbwb-2009]

"Where is the fine line between Free Speach and treason?" Posted by republic1776

"Art. III Sec. 3: Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two witnesses to the same overt Act, or on confession in open Court."

Therefore, revealing the name of an agent of the US government is an act of treason, while recognizing that the US has taken a wrong position, based on lies and opposing such positions in speech is not.

Since the reasons given by Bush as justification of invading Iraq were all lies this means that they are in truth not the enemy, as they, at the time of the order to invade, and for that matter even now, posed (and pose) no "clear and present danger" to the US, but by ordering hostile military actions which intentionally put soldiers in harm''s way for the sake of those lies, Mr. Bush and his klan committed acts of treason.

So, there is no fine line, as the two subjects you attempt to juxtapose are not even remotely related.

[rudy654-2009]

He will kill again whether as a janitor, or a mini-mart attendant and we will have the Jarheads to thank for it when he does... Posted by Nancy_Naive at 08:22 PM

Amen! He should have at least been sent to some kind of mental hospital, because someone who will do something like that can never be trusted in society ever again. How scary is that? When he comes back to civilian life and if he does something really bad like a mass murder in McDonald''s or something, I hope to see all those who thought he was some kind heroe come back on and say it again.

[rudy654-2009]

As far as Nancy_naive suggesting that these are "kangaroo courts" or that "he will kill again" ... well I guess naive truly fits you. Posted by mbievtea at 10:35 PM

LOL! A man stabs someone 17 times and slashes him 26 times, and you think he should be neighbor of the year? OH, I so hope that when he returns to civilian life he gets to live near you. Naive? LOL!!!! What usually happens to people who do that kind of thing in OUR society? They go to jail when they get caught and hopefully rot there for the rest of their lives. I bet you got upset about the football guy who went prison for dog fights. Didn''t you?

[rudy654-2009]

As far as Nancy_naive suggesting that these are "kangaroo courts" or that "he will kill again" ... well I guess naive truly fits you. Posted by mbievtea at 10:35 PM

LOL! A man stabs someone 17 times and slashes him 26 times, and you think he should be neighbor of the year? OH, I so hope that when he returns to civilian life he gets to live near you. Naive? LOL!!!! What usually happens to people who do that kind of thing in OUR society? They go to jail when they get caught and hopefully rot there for the rest of their lives. I bet you got upset about the football guy who went prison for dog fights. Didn''t you?

[rudy654-2009]

I am proud of Services, I can only express deep graditude and thanks for them protecting us.Posted by republic1776 at 01:02 AM

You are so right! Why, if he hadn''t stabbed that man 17 times you might have been killed by some crazy kid in a mall who wanted to go out famously. Thank goodness that we have this man who are willing to stab someone who was on the US side, an Iraqi soldier, 17 times plus 26 slashes to protect you from such happenings.

[rudy654-2009]

Bad, bad man for stabbing someone by accident 17 times, 26 slashings and a chop to the face. Bad, bad! Now, you will have to wash the dishes and think about what a bad thing you did! Now put out your hand! Smack! There, now be a good boy and go play.

[hissteps4u]

Republic those who trash Us wouldn''t dare serve a day of service to their fellow Man except to berate and belittle them. Tree Hugging fur hating leftist nut bags they are.
Pay them no mind they cant even get the facts right so why be bothered at their freedom of speech. They are not worth it. Even Fools have a right to be a Fool. LOL

[hissteps4u]

Naive you are so ignorant of the facts. It would help if you present the facts rather than your off the cuff remarks and cynicism.

If you so dislike the US take a hike.. go to Iraq join the Salvation army, go to Somalia. better yet learn some history and try telling some truth rather than distorted self indulgent lies. Your Pathetic

[sgtrds]

I am sick of the far left trashing America out day in and day out.
The far left''''s words kill more than bullets ever could.

Posted by republic1776 at 01:06 AM : Dec 15, 2007

The most unAmerican people in the entire world today are the right wing as*sholes currently in the White House. They pis*s on our laws, crush our freedoms, wipe their as*ses with our Constitution and have tried to destroy every precious thing that makes us Americans. they have ruined our reputation in the world and worst of all have killed nearly 4000 of our troops just for profit. Just for money. they''re sick and they most certainly are NOT Americans. Bush and Cheney and their ilk are internationalists first and always. They don''t give a sh*it about our country or our people beyond how much money they can steal from us. Real Americans, real patriots, hate them and all they stand for. This is OUR country and we''re going to take it back from those as*sholes, by blood and force if we have to!

[republic1776]

You know after reading some of these comments.
Where is the fine line between Free Speach and treason?
I am sick of the far left trashing America out day in and day out.
The far left''s words kill more than bullets ever could.

[republic1776]

Jasem Muhammed Hassin was exposing our soldier''s location.
I know I would get mighty upset and stab him 50 times if my life was in danger.
Jasem Muhammed Hassin, could have been undercover as well. We don''t know.
I find it repulsive how the far left has no problem trahing out our Marines.
99 Percent of them are good.
I am proud of Services, I can only express deep graditude and thanks for them protecting us.

[sgtrds]

So because of a rush to fill the ranks the standards get lowered and the Marines let another psychotic killer into the Corp. I know it''s not their fault really, but this is a guy that should have been weeded out before being handed a loaded weapon. He also should be serving life in the stockade.

[brianbwb-2009]

It is almost humorous to see those who usually take the neocon positions, voicing strident protests when they think the courts let a criminal out of jail, now praising a court that actually lets a brutal murderer go free.

For the pro war "supporters", let us hope that he lives in your neighborhood.

[mbievtea]

Hey, davidjones ... when you get to Canada send me a card. Good riddance ... if you don''t like it in America and you are ashamed to be an American ... you don''t have the guts to back-up your comments ...