Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman

Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman, formerly a legate of the Benacian Union Defence Force. Executed in 1731 AN for his part in the Journey to the West incident between the Benacian Union and Shireroth.

Brother-in-law of Đorđe Babić, grandson of Karmen Joonai (Viscountess Cherokee), and great-great grandson of Kaiser Aurangzeb.

Career

The Court Martial of Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman

Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman, the Legate of the 13 Bergsfördelningen "Mishalanska" division, faced a court martial for his role in authorising the engagement and shooting down of a Shirerithian aircraft carrying members of the Imperial family on 35.XV.1730 AN. The tribunal was convened on 6.I.1731 AN in Merensk, with al-Osman arraigned before the Lachmeren Troika (Reinbold Fischermeister, Gundwin Netzemacher, and Harmann Angelfürst) and presided over by Zacharias Avon-El, the officer commanding the Central Banner Group of Benacia Command.

The Prosecution's Case

The prosecution's case rested on the claim that al-Osman had acted with criminal negligence in ordering the Shirerithian aircraft to be engaged without proper verification of its status as a hostile target. The court heard evidence that al-Osman had received warnings from Air Defence Command that the aircraft was a friendly flight, but had chosen to ignore these warnings and instead authorised the launch of two S-2 Standard Missiles, one of which struck the aircraft, causing it to crash and resulting in the deaths of all on board.

The Defence's Arguments

Al-Osman's defence team argued that the legate had acted in good faith and in accordance with his training and protocols. They claimed that the aircraft had been identified as a hostile target by the Panopticon Nexus, the integrated command, control, and communication system of the Benacian Union, and that al-Osman was duty-bound to engage any hostile targets identified by this system. They further argued that the warnings from Air Defence Command had not been properly communicated to al-Osman in a timely manner, and that he had made the decision to engage based on the information available to him at the time.

The Verdict

After deliberating for several days, the tribunal found Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman guilty of criminal negligence in the discharge of his duties. The panel's ruling stated that, while al-Osman had acted in accordance with his training and protocols, he had failed to exercise proper judgement and due diligence in verifying the status of the Shirerithian aircraft before authorising its engagement.

The Sentence

In light of the gravity of the offence and the tragic loss of life involved, the tribunal sentenced al-Osman to be transferred into the custody of the Magisters-Carnifex, the executioners of the Benacian Union, to face the Wheel of Misfortune. This archaic form of punishment, dating back to the earliest days of the Benacian Union, involved being strapped to a large wheel and the condemned being spun until his head arrived on a suitable verdict. The determined punishment arrived at thereby was that the condemned was to miserably perish by having his back broken.

The sentence was carried out on 14.I.1731 AN in the presence of observers from Normark and the Suren Confederacy. Jon Marenai-Eqlarion al-Osman's death was intended to serve as a stark warning to all officers of the BUDF regarding the consequences of negligence in the discharge of their duties, particularly in matters involving the potential for unsanctioned loss of life.

Legacy

A petition for his rehabilitation was submitted by the UGB national sector party of the N&H for consideration by the Chamber of Guilds and Corporations in 1733 AN. The matter is expected to be referred to the next full session of the Congress of Chryse.