Hamdania Defendants' Web Sites Drawing Attention

Blogger Categories: War On Terror / US Military / Crime Punishment"
Seven Web sites set up by friends and families of eight Camp Pendleton troops accused of kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi civilian are getting thousands of page hits ---- and raising money for their defense.

The supporters also are planning auctions and hosting barbecues in their attempts to raise money to pay the bills of the civilian attorneys the men have hired, bills that are expected to be as much as $100,000 or more per man.

Seven Marines and one sailor are charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy and related offenses in the April 26 death of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad. They could face the death penalty if convicted.

The accused men, members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment's Kilo Company, have not had an opportunity to enter pleas; that stage of the proceedings has not been set.

Family members maintain the men are innocent and are using the Internet to rally support for them.
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Deanna Pennington of Tracy ---- Robert Pennington's mother ---- said she anticipates the legal fees to pay her son's civilian attorney will top $100,000, an amount she said the other families also anticipate they will need.

Her Web site has brought in about $16,000, she said.

"Part of me feels guilty for taking the money," she said in a telephone interview Thursday from a friend's home in Oceanside, "but it is not about me, it's about Rob and Rob's life. And when I think about that, I am a real momma bear."

Jodka's father, John Jodka Jr. of Encinitas, also anticipates a large bill.

"You can buy a lot of Mercedes for it, let's put it that way," he said. "There's been a wide range of people sending whatever they can. People from all over the country. It's been very gratifying." more

Blogger Categories: War On Terror / US Military / Crime Punishment

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