Gov't: conflicting statements on Afghan shooting to be expected

By: Associated Press | WNCT
Published: January 17, 2008

(AP) - A government attorney says conflicting statements from members of a Marine special operations unit accused of shooting indiscriminately at Afghan civilians and witnesses at the scene are to be expected.

Major Phillip Sanchez said today that that's because the witnesses are "dealing with the fog of war."

Sanchez is one of several attorneys presenting evidence at a Court of Inquiry, a rarely used administrative fact-finding panel examining the actions of two officers involved in the March 4 shooting.

Marines in the unit have testified they came under small arms fire after the bombing, which they said was the initial blow of a well-planned ambush.

But Afghanistan's Independent Human Rights Commission said last year the Marines fired indiscriminately in six locations along a 10-mile stretch of road. An Army investigation killed as many as 19 civilians, although attorneys for the two officers argue the death toll was lower.

The Court of Inquiry is expected to spend all day Friday in closed session, and more testimony is expected next week.