Conflicting portraits emerge of accused Marine

[unhappycamper]

Conflicting portraits emerge of accused Marine
By GILLIAN FLACCUS
Associated Press Writer
Dec 3, 7:12 AM EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) -- A prosecutor has argued that a Marine Corps officer facing demotion failed to fully disclose and investigate the killing of two dozen Iraqi men, women and children by Marines under his command.

But a defense attorney called the retired officer a highly qualified leader who took the fall amid political pressure fueled by inaccurate media reports of what was a chaotic firefight with insurgents and not a war crime.

The diverse descriptions of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani emerged during opening statements Wednesday to a three-member military panel that will determine if Chessani should be demoted in retirement for dereliction of duty, a move his civilian attorney says could cost Chessani and his wife a half-million dollars in benefits. The couple is expecting their seventh child.

If the board finds no wrongdoing, the case will be closed. If it finds misconduct, it can recommend that the secretary of the Navy order Chessani retired at a lesser rank.

Chessani had been charged with dereliction of duty for failing to investigate the killings and was relieved of his command in 2006. However, a judge at Camp Pendleton dismissed the charges because of improper contact between a general overseeing the case and an investigator.


Rest of article at: http://ap.stripes.com/dynamic/stories/U/US_MARINES_HADITHA?SITE=DCSAS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT