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Two more Marines ordered to trial in Haditha incident
By: North County Times | ∞
CAMP PENDLETON -- Two Marines involved in the slaying of 24 Iraqi civilians and its aftermath in Haditha in 2005 have been ordered to trial by court-martial.
A Marine Corps spokesman said Monday that Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will face trial on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.
Also ordered to stand trial is 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, who faces charges of making false official statements, obstruction of justice and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps.
The two join Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani and Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum as having been ordered to trial for their actions following a roadside bombing at Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005.
Wuterich led a squad from the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment's Kilo Company in a house-to-house search following the bombing that killed one Marine and injured two others.
During those searches, 19 Iraqis were killed. The slain included several women and children and five men who emerged from a car moments after the bombing.
Chessani, who was the battalion commander at Haditha, faces trial on dereliction of duty for failing to fully investigate the incident.
Tatum faces manslaughter charges.
A release coming from Camp Pendleton later this morning will detail the specific charges that Wuterich and Grayson face.
The decision to order them to trial was made by Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, head of the I Marine Expeditionary Force and commanding officer of Marine Corps forces in the Middle East.
Four other Marines originally charged in the incident were cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.
See more on this story in Tuesday's North County Times.
Massachusetts Democrat wrote on Dec 31, 2007 1:59 PM:Based soley upon the exculpatory and publicly available evidence in this case, the charges brought against these four Marines by Mssrs. McGirk, Murtha, Hamza and the 'Hammurabi Human Rights Group' are a fraud.
We are the ones who trained these men; asked them to do something that 99.6% of us won't do; and we have the audacity to call them criminals?
The following is a telling quote from Mr. McGirk's March 19, 2006 TIME magazine indictment that has been conveniently overlooked in a rush to find a politically correct and tidy way to end this charade.
"The available evidence does not provide conclusive proof that the Marines deliberately killed innocents in Haditha."
To Lt. Col Chessani, 1st Lt. Grayson, Staff Sgt. Wuterich, Lance Cpl. Tatum: Please believe that you are never alone in this. You are facing the loss of the very freedom you fought to defend for us, and to provide for strangers. I speak for countless others who are ashamed and embarrased by the manner that our President, the Defense Department, the Marine Corps and our nation have questioned, challenged and charged your good names, your honor and your reputations. Shame on us. I am sorry for the ordeal that you and your families are enduring.
Little bushie wrote on Dec 31, 2007 3:20 PM:will give both medals.
What? wrote on Dec 31, 2007 4:37 PM:This is a goat rope. Why weren't these men charged when the others were? By saying that I am not saying they or the others charged ealier were guilty or not. It just seems like you do an investigation then you charge those you have evidence to charge. It just strike me as questionable.
Just Stop!! wrote on Jan 3, 2008 12:38 AM:Enough of this insanity! You train these brave young men to Kill the Enemy. That is their job. And beyond that, they have to do it to stay alive. If the enemy hides among women and children...then their blood is on the hands of the enemy. Not our guys who are defending themselves and others from these pigs! Stop with these stupid prosecutions for the sake of PC and let our guys do their jobs and come home alive!!!!!
esteban wrote on Jan 4, 2008 9:30 AM:This farce of a trial is run by the anti American liberal scum of this country. I can only wish ill-will on the liberals.
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