Pilot Online reports:
Five sailors could offer testimony contradicting the government’s main witness in the controversial prosecution of three Navy SEALs accused of mistreating a suspected Iraqi terrorist.
But whether they’ll take the stand is in question after the government denied their requests for immunity on Friday.
As military justice practitioners well know, the issue of immunity for defense witnesses is difficult. The prosecution routinely grants their witnesses immunity, but rarely, unless ordered by a judge, do they grant immunity to defense witnesses. I’m not sure the SEAL cases are ones in which this obvious disparity should become an issue.
Military.com reports here (initially):
The Army has been investigating five soldiers at its largest training base since December over allegations that soldiers’ food may have been poisoned, but officials said Friday no one was ever in any danger.
But the reports now are:
A statement released by authorities at Fort Jackson also said no credible evidence has been found to support the allegations.