Luigi59
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Court-Martialed Cadet Runs Out Of Appeals
December 9, 2010
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The only cadet court-martialed in the 130-year history of the Coast Guard Academy has run out of options to appeal his conviction.
Cadet Webster Smith already served time behind bars, but continued to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
After more than four years, the Smith case is over. The former Coast Guard cadet hit a dead end when the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear his final appeal.
Smith was acquitted of rape charges, but served five months in a military prison after being convicted of sodomy, extortion and other charges.
He was also kicked out of the Coast Guard Academy.
Smith has claimed in multiple appeals that his constitutional rights were violated at his trial.
He said he wasn't allowed to ask one of the female cadets who accused him of rape about her past, saying he wanted to show that the woman known as Cadet S.R., had a motive to lie about what happened with Smith.
He claimed their sexual encounter was consensual.
Since the nation's high court has declined to hear Smith's case, the final judgment comes from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the armed forces.
In March the court ruled that his conviction should stand, saying "further cross-examination of Cadet S.R. was not 'constitutionally required.'"
http://www.wfsb.com/news/26077524/detail.html
December 9, 2010
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The only cadet court-martialed in the 130-year history of the Coast Guard Academy has run out of options to appeal his conviction.
Cadet Webster Smith already served time behind bars, but continued to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
After more than four years, the Smith case is over. The former Coast Guard cadet hit a dead end when the U.S. Supreme Court has decided not to hear his final appeal.
Smith was acquitted of rape charges, but served five months in a military prison after being convicted of sodomy, extortion and other charges.
He was also kicked out of the Coast Guard Academy.
Smith has claimed in multiple appeals that his constitutional rights were violated at his trial.
He said he wasn't allowed to ask one of the female cadets who accused him of rape about her past, saying he wanted to show that the woman known as Cadet S.R., had a motive to lie about what happened with Smith.
He claimed their sexual encounter was consensual.
Since the nation's high court has declined to hear Smith's case, the final judgment comes from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the armed forces.
In March the court ruled that his conviction should stand, saying "further cross-examination of Cadet S.R. was not 'constitutionally required.'"
http://www.wfsb.com/news/26077524/detail.html
