"Death at the Mosque" is an episode of JAG that first aired on April 1, 2005. Directed by Bradford May. Written by Stephen Zito.
Pfc. Smith (Chris Johnson) allegedly murdered an unarmed civilian during a shootout in a mosque in Karballah, Iraq. A ZNN reporter, Brad Holliman (Thomas Vincent Kelly) captures the incident on video. The mosque is very pointedly referred to as "Martyrs' Mosque."
Major General Cresswell (David Andrews) dispatches Lt. Vukovic (Chris Beetem) to defend Smith. Major Atkins (Paul Schulze) prosecutes.
Vukovic discovers the unarmed civilian was very close to a suicide vest. Smith is found not guilty. Vukovic is assigned temporarily to 1st Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force.
On a mission, Smith saves Captain Ellis's life, and then Vukovic saves both of their lives. Holliman again gets it all on camera. Vukovic destroys the camera. Holliman asks Ellis to charge Vukovic, but Ellis refuses, saying that Holliman's activities gave their position away to the enemy.
Meanwhile, back stateside, Cresswell asks Lt. Colonel MacKenzie to convince his daughter, a plebe at the Naval Academy, to not drop out of the program. And Commander Rabb is still off duty, watching over Mattie (Hallee Hirsh) on a respirator at the hospital.
Tropes
- Alphabet News Network: ZNN, a very thinly veiled CNN.
- Continuity Nod: Cammie says Mac "negotiated a hostage crisis in Indonesia." However, it's not clear which episode she's referring to.
- Whip Pan: Just before the verdict is read.
