Attorney Issues Statement Correcting News Commentary About Haditha Marine

Richard T. McNeil, an attorney representing First Lieutenant William T. Kallop has issued a statement correcting yesterday's news commentary regarding his client.


Mr. McNeil stated,

"The government has ordered First Lieutenant William T. Kallop to cooperate with government investigators and all counsel with regard to events in Haditha, Iraq on November 19, 2005, and it has granted him immunity from prosecution as required by law before the government could issue such an order. Lt. Kallop has not been charged and has not been threatened with charges of any kind. He is cooperating with the investigation and he is providing information to both prosecutors and defense counsel. Lt. Kallop wants the real truth about these events to be revealed, and he hopes that a fair and impartial judgment of these events can then take place."

Mr. McNeil continued,

"News coverage of this event and Lt. Kallop's involvement has contained numerous inaccuracies and false statements. I will not comment on this except to say that I am confident that the true facts of the situation will be revealed in the course of legal proceedings, and like Lt. Kallop I am hopeful that a fair and impartial judgment of these events can then take place."

Mr. McNeil concluded,

"I continue to be concerned about the numerous leaks of confidential information in this case, much of which has been misleading, biased and/or inaccurate."