Confined awaiting Hamdaniya trial Commentary
Confined awaiting Hamdaniya trial
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Victor Kelley [President, National Military Justice Group; Civilian Counsel to Corporal Trent D. Thomas, USMC]: "I am a retired Marine and my profession since "retirement" is the defense of service members accused of crimes under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. If someone has a better job than I, I haven't met him. I have the privilege of traveling the world, defending those who defend America.

Last summer I received a call from Corporal Trent D.Thomas' wife, asking if I would represent her husband. Corporal Thomas is one of eight who are being charged with murder, kidnapping, and conspiracy in the Hamdaniya incident in Iraq last April. Along with Marine Major Haytham Faraj, Senior Defense Counsel Camp Pendleton; and Major Dale Saran, Instructor, the United States Naval Justice School, we are Corporal Thomas' defense team.

The required brevity of this submission to JURIST is such that my comments here must be limited. Suffice to say that Corporal Thomas has served his country with distinction during three combat tours in Iraq. During his second deployment to Iraq he was wounded in battle while attempting to save the life of a fallen brother during the battle for Falujah. He was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, and meritoriously promoted to corporal.

Trent is married — he "celebrated" his third wedding anniversary this past week. He and his wife, Erica, have a beautiful two year old daughter whom they affectionately call "Bear".

Corporal Thomas has now been confined — he is at the Camp Pendleton Brig — for eleven months. If convicted the maximum jurisdictional limit of the court is life without the possibility of parole, and a dishonorable discharge. His trial is to begin at Camp Pendleton California on June 18, 2007 and I anticipate will last two to three weeks. He will plead "not guilty" to all charges and specifications."

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