News - LCpl Smith's accuser recants

[JALU3]

By HRVOJE HRANJSKI,Associated Press Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18
MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino woman who accused a U.S. Marine of rape has altered her testimony and emigrated to the United States, saying she was no longer certain that a crime took place, a lawyer said Wednesday.

The case has strained U.S.-Philippine military relations amid calls for the scrapping of a pact allowing U.S. troops to train Filipino soldiers, and has become a rallying point for anti-American protests.
Three years after Lance Cpl. Daniel Smith was convicted of rape and sentenced to 40 years in jail, his accuser submitted a five-page affidavit to an appeals court Tuesday saying she now doubts her own version of events.

AP News Story Source (http://ph.news.yahoo.com/ap/20090318/tap-as-philippines-us-marine-fe2a5de.html)

Here's hoping this helps his appeal.
So what does this mean for his service record?

[Kimmy]

Terrible, what a waste. :nope:

[UnderseaLcpl]

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot!?:o

I'm not sure what to make of this. While this wouldn't be the first time a fellow Marine was accused of a crime he did not commit by an opportunistic party, is it possible that she is being pressured to recant her accusation by someone in order to ease the strain on U.S.-Filipino, as some claim?

Well, here's hoping the whole thing was just a big mistake.

[Tribesman]

It's a tricky one isn't it .
As she was drunk (so drunk she passed out) she was not in command of her mental faculties so any possible consent that may have been given while she is in that state has no real standing before a court .

[baggygreen]

Would he be permitted to reenlist, supposing he wanted to?

What about backpay, smeared reputation etc?