Did you read the document? There is no doubt, as there was on the Iowa, about the source of this fire. It doesn’t say an exact number, but the fire investigation found about four or five infernal devices designed to start a fire - they weren’t built into the ship. There is no doubt that someone started the fire but there is some doubt that Mays was that person, thus the search. A trial requires means, motive, and opportunity and all three appear to be there. It strikes me that the investigation is looking for an electronic trail to find out who moved the bottle marked by the fire investigation.
There really is only the slightest comparison to the Iowa in that they were both ships and both had fires on board.
I read it.
They tested for DNA on that bottle that they believe was used and it wasn’t a match.
Only thing putting that individual in that space was the one witness and even then he came back and changed his story to thinking it was him afterwards (defense atty will easily tear that too pieces).
The whole search warrant had all sorts of misinformation that’s going to come out in trial.
1- Sailors wear their NWUs under coveralls? Since when? That never happens and it’s too hot and it’s never been normal.
2- DCA saying that it’s tampered with and that his team did check? Well of course he’s going to say that. There’s a chance though that it was Gun decked by the watch team.
3- The social media posting of “I love the smell of napalm…” that’s from the movie Apocalypse Now.
4- lack of eyewitnesses
I don’t think they got enough to even get it to trial to be honest.
I draw the similarity between this and the Iowa because the Navy has shown time and time again they will go to great lengths to assign blame in the name of PR and not admit they messed up or it was a safety issue.