SEAL pleads not guilty in Iraq detainee case

[unhappycamper]

SEAL pleads not guilty in Iraq detainee case
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Dec 23, 2009 6:44:37 EST

NORFOLK, Va. — The third SEAL accused in the assault of an alleged al-Qaida terrorist pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of dereliction of duty and making a false official statement in a military court on Norfolk Naval Base.

Special Warfare Operator 2nd Class (SEAL) Jonathan Elliot Keefe entered his pleas through his lawyer, Virginia Beach-based Greg McCormack, who has already requested — and been granted — the first continuance in this case.

As a result, Keefe’s trial, originally scheduled to start Jan. 26, will be postponed until April 6. Keefe also requested that he be tried by a jury with one-third enlisted members. He also had the option to have an all-officer panel or to have his cased ruled on by a judge alone.

But before the case goes to trial, McCormack says the government has a lot to prove.

“Very clearly we have very significant outstanding discovery,” McCormack said. At issue are alleged videos and photos of the alleged victim, Ahmed Hashim Abed, both during and after the attack.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/12/navy_seal_arraignment_122209w/