thedrifter
05-15-07, 08:23 AM
Article published May 14, 2007
Mishawaka restaurant supporting accused Marine
WSBT-TV Report
A Mishawaka family business is showing support for a Marine under fire from the military. Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt is facing murder charges.
Military prosecutors say he is one of three enlisted Marines who took part in the killing of 24 innocent Iraqis civilians in Haditha in November 2005.
Sharrat grew up in Granger and graduated from Penn High School in 2003. One of his fellow Marines said they ambushed houses after their convoy hit a roadside bomb and killed a Marine.
A local family is also on Sharratt's side at their restaurant in Mishawaka. The family that runs Coney Express believes Sharratt was following orders, and the family wanted to do something to stand behind him.
As Jamie Bonder is busy working at Coney Express after the lunchtime rush, she is part of an effort to scrape together money for the defense of Sharratt, a fellow Penn High School classmate and graduate.
He faces murder charges in what military prosecutors say was revenge killing, not combat fighting, in Iraqi civilian deaths.
"I don't think the government is being fair,” Bonder said. “He was out there risking his life. People attacked him. He should have the right to attack back."
She knows Sharratt, especially through a mutual friend who also served in Iraq, and she is close to the Sharratt family.
She learned more about the case from Sharratt's family's standpoint at their Web site, justinsharrat.com.
She then asked about putting out the donation jar on the counter at the restaurant.
"My mom's like, ‘go for it,’" she said.
As Bonder, her mom, and other friends follow the events of the charged Haditha Marines, they'll keep the jar out for a while before sending it to Sharratt's parents in Pennsylvania and hope he is exonerated at an upcoming hearing.
"The way it's going, it could go either way at this point," Bonder added.
Sharrat faces his hearing on June 11. One of the Marines struck a deal to testify against the other three enlisted Marines.
Ellie
Mishawaka restaurant supporting accused Marine
WSBT-TV Report
A Mishawaka family business is showing support for a Marine under fire from the military. Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt is facing murder charges.
Military prosecutors say he is one of three enlisted Marines who took part in the killing of 24 innocent Iraqis civilians in Haditha in November 2005.
Sharrat grew up in Granger and graduated from Penn High School in 2003. One of his fellow Marines said they ambushed houses after their convoy hit a roadside bomb and killed a Marine.
A local family is also on Sharratt's side at their restaurant in Mishawaka. The family that runs Coney Express believes Sharratt was following orders, and the family wanted to do something to stand behind him.
As Jamie Bonder is busy working at Coney Express after the lunchtime rush, she is part of an effort to scrape together money for the defense of Sharratt, a fellow Penn High School classmate and graduate.
He faces murder charges in what military prosecutors say was revenge killing, not combat fighting, in Iraqi civilian deaths.
"I don't think the government is being fair,” Bonder said. “He was out there risking his life. People attacked him. He should have the right to attack back."
She knows Sharratt, especially through a mutual friend who also served in Iraq, and she is close to the Sharratt family.
She learned more about the case from Sharratt's family's standpoint at their Web site, justinsharrat.com.
She then asked about putting out the donation jar on the counter at the restaurant.
"My mom's like, ‘go for it,’" she said.
As Bonder, her mom, and other friends follow the events of the charged Haditha Marines, they'll keep the jar out for a while before sending it to Sharratt's parents in Pennsylvania and hope he is exonerated at an upcoming hearing.
"The way it's going, it could go either way at this point," Bonder added.
Sharrat faces his hearing on June 11. One of the Marines struck a deal to testify against the other three enlisted Marines.
Ellie