2 Face Court Martial for Haditha Deaths

[unhappycamper]

2 Face Court Martial for Haditha Deaths
Agence France-Presse | January 01, 2008

Two Marines will stand trial following the killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town of Haditha, the worst incident of alleged war crimes involving American troops in Iraq, officials said Dec. 31.

Sgt. Frank Wuterich will face charges of manslaughter, aggravated assault and dereliction of duty in connection with the November 2005 incident, which saw unarmed men, women and children shot dead by Marines.

1st Lt. Andrew Grayson will face lesser charges of making false statements and obstruction of justice, a statement released by the Marines from their Camp Pendleton base in southern California said.

More serious charges of unpremeditated murder against Wuterich were dismissed. Allegations that the staff sergeant asked another Marine to help cover up the alleged killings were also dropped.

Prosecutors have alleged marines went on an indiscriminate killing spree in Haditha, west of Baghdad on Nov. 19, 2005 in the hours after a roadside bomb attack on a military convoy that tore a popular comrade in half.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/NewsContent/0,13319,159197,00.html?wh=wh



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