Soldier: I was ordered to delete Ft. Hood video

[cal04]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39686344/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Witness of last year's rampage tells court his NCO told him to destroy cell phone footage

A soldier said he shot cell phone video during last year's Fort Hood deadly rampage but that an officer ordered him to delete the footage.

Under cross examination Friday, Pfc. Lance Aviles told a military court that he deleted the two videos at the direction of his NCO on the same day as the shooting, Nov. 5.

Friday is the third full day of testimony at the Article 32 hearing to decide if Maj. Nidal Hasan, the 40-year-old American-born Muslim charged with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted premeditated murder at Fort Hood, should stand trial.

Witnesses have already described how they saw Hasan open fire, shoot rapidly and reload at least one laser-sighted handgun in a medical processing center at the Texas Army post.

[wtmusic]

1. Question

Who the hell would open their cellphone and shoot video with a rampaging gunman in the room? :crazy:

[PJPhreak]

2. A U.S. Serviceman...

One who has the training and forethought to record it.

[wtmusic]

4. Soldiers are trained in taking cellphone videos in moments of crisis?

I wasn't aware. :eyes:

[JackRiddler]

3. Not a relevant question.

What people do in the moment can often be puzzling.

It pales besides, "Why would he be ordered to delete it?"

[Poll_Blind]

6. Somone with the forethought to realize the need for evidence.

Recall that this person had no idea whether they were going to live or die, whether the attacker was a lone nut or opening shots of some new terrorist attack. Having the forethought to record what is going on in a horrific situation like that shows a great deal of foresight; if the killer had escaped, actual video of the shooter would be priceless in whatever investigation followed.

I don't get why that seems so strange to you when that's actually one of the most helpful things and otherwise-unarmed person could do in a dire situation like that. Obviously dangerous, but very helpful to tracking down the killer or reconstructing the events.

PB

[Poll_Blind]

5. Why in the hell would anyone give the order to destroy evidence in a situation like this?

:wtf:

PB