Robert Maples,Witnesses for the Prosecution


Direct examination by Aubrey Daniels for the prosecution:

A: We were grabbing up people. We went into hooches, got some of the people there and shot at them. One woman come up and showed me her arm, where she had been shot. She was elderly. I couldn't see how old she was. The guys pushed these people up on the trail, a few women, kids. We just moved through the village. We came to this hold or ditch or something. I was with Bergthold. Calley was there at the ditch and he asked Stanley to interpret for him. We came up. They had people standing by the hold. Calley and Meadlo were firing at the people. They were firing into the hole. I saw Meadlo firing into the hole.

Q: Where was Lieutenant Calley?

A: There. Firing.

Q: Where was his weapon?

A: Pointing into the hole.

Q: Did you have any conversation with Lieutenant Calley at that ditch?

A: Yes

Q: What did he say?

A: He asked me to use my machine gun.

Q: At the ditch?

A: Yes.

Q: What did you say?

A: I refused.
 

Cross examination by George Latimer:

Q: Were they firing single shot or automatic?

A: I haven't any idea. Meadlo and Lieutenant Calley was both firing into that hole. I saw people go into that hole and no one come out. That's all I know.

Q: Well, you've changed your testimony, haven't you? Didn't you tel the Peers committee in January, 1970 that you never saw Calley pushing people into that hole?

A: I never paid it no mind. I just remembered now. I haven't changed my testimony. I remember Calley was pushing people into that hole. Over a period of time, you forget things then you remember.

Q And what else have you remembered that you saw?

A: I saw Meadlo crying.

Q: From seventy-five yards away?

A: Yes.

Q: You saw tears in his eyes?

A: Yes. I saw tears in Meadlo's eyes.

Q: He had on his helmet and his gear and you saw tears in his eyes?

A: Yes.

Q: Do you remember anything else?

A: No.

Q: Well, tell me, what was so remarkable about Meadlo that made you remember him?

A: He was firing and crying.

Q: He was pointing his weapon away from you and they you saw tears in his eyes?

A: Yes.

TRIAL TRANSCRIPT PAGE