Whistleblower spc. investigated in shooting

[unhappycamper]

Whistleblower spc. investigated in shooting
By Ryan Lenz - The Associated Press
Posted : Saturday Oct 20, 2007 8:08:34 EDT

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The Army is investigating a former 101st Airborne Division soldier — who brought to light charges his comrades raped an Iraqi teenager — for his role in a separate shooting at a checkpoint that left a woman dead.

Spc. Justin Watt, who is now assigned to Fort Benning, Ga., has been barred from leaving the Army on a medical discharge until an investigation concludes, said his attorney Kenneth David of Tallahassee, Fla.

In letters between David and the Army’s Criminal Investigations Division, the military has alleged “credible information” exists to believe Watt obstructed justice by trying to cover up a shooting in December 2005 that has been under investigation for more than a year.

But David said the allegations could be retribution for Watt’s role in helping military prosecutors identify five soldiers charged last year with raping and murdering an Iraqi teen and killing her family.

“Justin Watt has been the Army’s shining star in terms of honesty and integrity. He put himself at risk to get this information out,” David said Friday.

~snip~

“After CID realized how completely ineffectual the command was — and how undisciplined the entire platoon and company had become — they went back and looked at that shooting and saw the version of events that had been provided to them early were not credible,” Culp said.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_watt_shooting/