Re: Opening statements, Friday?

[Haytham Faraj <haytham@puckettfaraj.com>]

Gretel,

I am shocked by your story. After four hours of examination that disclosed that Sgt Dela Cruz is a verified liar, who has lied under oath and failed a polygraph, the best you could do is cite one of his lies that he used to gain dismissal of the murder charges that he clearly committed based on his own testimony? You felt his credibility was impaired? Really? That's it? He has NEVER spoken the truth. Furthermore, he urinated in the skull of the man he killed and claimed Wuterich killed that man. He kicked another man in the head and said "I killed that mother fucker." He killed those 5 men and claimed that Wuterich did it. Had you been paying attention, you would have heard him say that. Instead you waited for something that sounded sensational without any regard for its truth. Congratulations. You'll get to sell  a few more papers tomorrow but you failed in your moral responsibility to your readers to report the truth and betrayed your ethical duties to your profession. I am disappointed. 

Haytham Faraj

Sent from my iPad

On Jan 4, 2012, at 5:50 PM, <gretel.kovach@utsandiego.com> wrote:

Thanks, see you then.

Gretel

On Jan 4, 2012, at 5:43 PM, "Haytham Faraj" <haytham@puckettfaraj.com> wrote:

Friday for opening. 

Haytham Faraj 

Sent from my iPhone

On Jan 4, 2012, at 5:36 PM, <gretel.kovach@utsandiego.com> wrote:

Hello, do you expect to get into opening statements tomorrow, or will that likely happen Friday? Last I heard jury selection might take all day.

Thank you,

Gretel, U-T San Diego

On Dec 30, 2011, at 8:43 AM, "Haytham Faraj" <haytham@puckettfaraj.com> wrote:

Neal,

Gretel is asking whether Frank would like to provide a short statement to be included in an article she is working on. 

Haytham Faraj 

Sent from my iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: <gretel.kovach@uniontrib.com>
Date: December 30, 2011 10:09:55 AM CST
To: <haytham@puckettfaraj.com>
Subject: RE: Wuterich questions/request for motions

Thank you anyway. If he has a simple statement he wants to release to me today instead of answering my questions, I would be happy to include it in the story.

 

See you next week,

Gretel

 

From: Haytham Faraj [mailto:haytham@puckettfaraj.com]
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 7:40 AM
To: Kovach, Gretel
Subject: RE: Wuterich questions/request for motions

 

Gretel,

Unfortunately SSgt Wuterich is not going to be able to respond.  He’s taking some time off and we’re going to immediately start preparing with him after the New Year.  I am attaching a motion and a the Article 32 Investigating Officer report.

 

From: gretel.kovach@uniontrib.com [mailto:gretel.kovach@uniontrib.com]
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 7:08 PM
To: haytham@puckettfaraj.com
Subject: Wuterich questions/request for motions
Importance: High

 

Thank you Mr. Faraj for speaking to me today regarding the upcoming court martial for Staff Sgt. Wuterich. Could you please forward a couple of the most salient motions laying out the narrative of what happened that day from Wuterich’s perspective? I will be writing this story tomorrow, Friday, so I am hoping you can send them to me in the morning.

 

Here are my questions for Staff Sgt. Wuterich. Thank you for agreeing to forward them to him.

 

1.       What do you want the public to know about you and this case?

2.       How do you feel about the fact that your court martial is about to begin?

3.       How do you feel today about what happened in Iraq, about why it happened and the people who died and your role in it?

4.       Do you think about Iraq a lot, or on the other hand do you try to put it out of mind?

5.       Has your perspective about the actions that day or your ensuing legal battle changed over the years? When you were first charged did it come as a surprise?

6.       I understand you are a single parent raising three daughters. Do they ask you about what happened in Haditha? What do you tell them? (How old are they, since that would affect your answers?)

7.       What are your plans for the future if you are exonerated?

 

 

Sincerely,

 

Gretel C. Kovach, military affairs reporter
The San Diego Union-Tribune
350 Camino de la Reina
San Diego, CA 92108
office (619) 293-1293/ cell 619-578-9011
gretel.kovach@uniontrib.com

Follow my stories at:
www.signonsandiego.com/staff/gretel-kovach
Facebook page: SDUT Military
Twitter @gckovach

 

Gretel Kovach | Military Reporter O: 619-293-1293 gretel.kovach@utsandiego.com UTSanDiego.com 350 Camino de la Reina, San Diego, CA 92108

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