Marine expelled, another punished over puppy video

Wed Jun 11, 2008 10:11 PM EDT

HONOLULU — The Marine Corps said Wednesday it was expelling one Marine and disciplining another for their roles in a video showing a Marine throwing a puppy off a cliff while on patrol in Iraq.

The 17-second video posted on YouTube drew sharp condemnation from animal rights groups when it came to light in March.

The clip shows two Marines joking before one hurls the puppy into a rocky gully. A yelping sound is heard as it flips through the air.

"That's mean. That's mean, Motari," an off-camera Marine is heard telling the Marine who tossed the black and white dog. The off-camera Marine snickered slightly afterward.

Lance Cpl. David Motari, assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment at Kaneohe Bay, is "being processed for separation" from the Marine Corps, the Marine Corps said in a news release. He also received unspecified "non-judicial punishment."

The Marine Corps didn't say what role Motari played in the clip.

The video was viewed tens of thousands of times before YouTube took it down because of a violation of the site's terms of use.

"The actions seen in the Internet video are contrary to the high standards we expect of every Marine and will not be tolerated," Marine Corps Base Hawaii said in a news release. "The vast majority of Marines conduct their duties with honor and compassion that makes American people proud."

The second Marine, Sgt. Crismarvin Banez Encarnacion, also received unspecified "non-judicial" punishment.

Encarnacion is assigned to the Weapons and Field Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

First Lt. Binford Strickland, a Marine Corps Base Hawaii spokesman, said the service may not reveal what roles the two men played in the video because that was part of the investigation. He said releasing such information would violate the Privacy Act.

Strickland declined to provide details about the disciplinary measures taken against the men for the same reason.

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Audrey McAvoy's Column, All of Newsvine
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Regions: Iraq , Honolulu

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{"commentId":1945061,"authorDomain":"flanks71"}

Marie-311311

It's proven that men who abuse animals eventually move up the food chain to women and children.

There is something seriously wrong with this guy and his behavior is going to get worse, if nothing is done. The Marines need to take responsibility for this young man and force him to get the appropriate therapy he needs to (hopefully) be a productive human being and not a monster.

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2 votes

#1 - Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:04 AM EDT

{"commentId":1959867,"authorDomain":"denn034"}

denn034

I posted on another story about this on Newsvine yesterday and wanted to say that that posting was just my way of saying What If Someone Did That You. I'm glad that soldier was expelled. Pet abuse is deplorable and partakes of a level of callousness that only the likes of a Ted Bundy could understand. Period.

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#2 - Fri Jun 13, 2008 4:28 PM EDT

{"commentId":1997553,"authorDomain":"Aerik"}

Aerik

I agree with Marie-311311; they move up the food chain, as she says, because this behavior reflects how they treat those they see as non-human in order to boost themselves up. Like any vice, more is needed over time. Eventually they'll move from the non-human to the dehumanized.

{"commentId":1997553,"threadId":"286732","contentId":"1564886","authorDomain":"Aerik"}

#3 - Wed Jun 18, 2008 5:12 PM EDT

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Marine expelled, another punished over puppy video

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