Virtues of transparency on display in Jordan -- albeit belatedly

The New York Times reports here on the release of a video showing the Jordanian soldier's murder of three American Special Forces soldiers. Jordanian Air Force Sgt. Ma’arik al-Tawayha was convicted by a military court and awarded a life sentence, but this video was not released until afterwards, to rebut claims by his tribe that he had been railroaded. As the article points out, the video also makes clear that official Jordanian statements at the time of the murders were false.

1. Wouldn't it have been better all around to release the video much earlier?

2. Any bets on clemency?