IRAQ: 'I will not answer any questions,' former Marine tells court-martial.
When former Marine Sgt. Jose Luis Nazario was on trial for allegedly killing Iraqi prisoners, Sgt. Ryan Weemer refused to testify, despite being given immunity and being threatened with a contempt of court citation and jail sentence.
On Thursday, Nazario did the same for Weemer: refusing to answer questions during a court-martial proceeding at Camp Pendleton in which Weemer stands accused of unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty in the same incident.
"With all due respect, I will not answer any questions," Nazario repeatedly told the prosecutor, according to a story in the North (San Diego) County Times by military writer Mark Walker.
"You have to answer," the judge told Nazario.
Exasperated, the prosecutor finally gave up. "It's futile, given his recalcitrance," the prosecutor said.
Nazario was acquitted in federal court in Riverside last August. Weemer's court-martial continues today and may go to the jury of eight Marines early next week.
-- Tony Perry, San Diego
Photo: Former Marine Sgt. Luis Nazario. Credit: Associated Press
