Military Courts pt 2

ATTORNEY-General Philip Ruddock has asked US authorities for a full report of a case in which two US Marines were cleared by a military court of stabbing an Australian student.Mr Ruddock vowed today to look into the trial of the two marines charged over the stabbing of Queensland university student Heath Twomey, 24, in February 2004.
The charges against one marine were dropped, and a military court acquitted the second earlier this month, but Mr Twomey was neither asked to attend any hearings as a witness nor informed of the outcome.
"I am not on the face of it, without being satisfied, prepared to allow the matter to go without further inquiry, and that's where it stands," Mr Ruddock told ABC radio.

"I don't know what the status of any statements made to the investigator is.
"I don't know what weight is put to them. I don't know how they test credibility."
Mr Ruddock said he had asked for a full report on the matter from the US Judge Advocate General, who is responsible for all military prosecutions.
He admitted his department could have done more to keep Mr Twomey's family informed about the case.
"I think it's quite clear they should have informed the family of the outcome," Mr Ruddock said.
But the more substantial issue was whether or not justice had been done, he said.
Mr Twomey was hit with a bottle and was stabbed in the neck at a Townsville nightclub in February last year.
Lance Corporal Craig Matthew Meeks and Staff Sergeant Beryl Wilson Jr were charged with attempted murder and assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.
Their trial was transferred to a US military court after the Australian Government agreed to a request from US authorities.
Mr Twomey's father, Ron Twomey, said the US justice system had failed his son.
"I think he's been left high and dry," he told ABC radio.
"It's such a foreign outcome compared to what would normally ensue within the Queensland justice system.
"I certainly know Heath was never a participant.
"I know some witnesses that were supporting him weren't participants.
"I don't know who participated at all."
Mr Ruddock said he wanted to know whether the US prosecutor had appealed against the decision.
"The expectation is that the US would deal with the matter fully, and that's where my inquiries are proceeding at this time," he said.
ARTICLE LIFTED FROM NEWS.AU
Personally, i don't think Ruddock will do much at all. The mistake was made when the Aussie govt agreement not to persue a fair trial here was put in place. This is the second case where 2 soldiers have walked free, the first was not so long ago, again Australia agreed to 2 marine's going stateside after they were arressted for the murder of a woman in Darwin. Promises were made that marines would be bought back to OZ for the trial......Surprise!!! The 2 have never showed, a bench warrant is out for their arresst if they are silly enough to step foot back here.
till next time, Michelle.