SEAL case: Judge orders witness immunity

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - A military judge on Friday ordered officials to grant immunity to possible defense witnesses in the case of a Navy SEAL accused of lying about another SEAL's alleged mistreatment of an Iraqi detainee.

If immunity is not granted, the judge may end the case.

The charges against a total of three SEALs involve Ahmed Hashim Abed, who has been linked to the 2004 deaths of four Blackwater contractors who were mutilated before their bodies were hung from a bridge in Fallujah.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew McCabe is accused of striking the detainee in the midsection, dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard the detainee, and lying to investigators following Abed's arrest in September of last year.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan E. Keefe is charged with dereliction of duty and making a false official statement.

Petty Officer 1st Class Julio Huertas is charged with dereliction of duty, lying to investigators and impeding an investigation.

The SEALs have denied the charges.

According to a Navy spokesperson, in a hearing Friday regarding Huertas' case, defense and government attorneys discussed granting possible immunity to other service members - possible defense witnesses - who reportedly back the three SEALs' version of events.

Previously these service members were denied immunity by their command.

At the hearing, the judge, Cmdr. Tierney Carlos, ordered the sevice members' command to provide witness immunity by March 24 or the proceeding against Huertas would be abated.

The three SEALs involved are based at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek - Fort Story.