Fallujah Marine Not Guilty
CAMP PENDLETON – A military jury on Thursday morning acquitted a Camp Pendleton Marine accused of killing an unarmed captive during the 2004 battle for Fallujah, Iraq.
The eight-member panel of Marine officers found Sgt. Ryan Weemer not guilty on all charges against him – unpremeditated murder and dereliction of duty. The jurors had deliberated for about 6 hours starting Wednesday afternoon.
Before the verdict was read in a Camp Pendleton courtroom, Weemer’s wife, sister and a former teacher held hands while sitting behind him. They started crying upon hearing “not guilty.”
Gasps could be heard, and some Marines sitting in the back of the courtroom bumped knuckles in a sign of congratulations.