Staff sergeant, lieutenant to stand trial in Hadithah deaths

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Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich


Staff sergeant, lieutenant to stand trial in Hadithah deaths
By Thomas Watkins - Associated Press
Posted : Monday Dec 31, 2007 18:40:36 EST

LOS ANGELES — A staff sergeant will face a court-martial on reduced charges stemming from the killing of 24 Iraqi men, women and children in Hadithah in 2005, the Marine Corps announced Monday.

Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 27, of Meriden, Conn., will stand trial at Camp Pendleton on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.

Earlier charges — unpremeditated murder, soliciting another to commit an offense and making a false official statement — were dismissed by Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of Marine Corps Forces Central Command.

Wuterich’s prosecution is part of the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war.

In December 2006, Wuterich and three enlisted members of his squad were charged with murder, and four officers were charged with failing to investigate the deaths. Charges against several of the men were dropped following preliminary hearings over the past year and now none will face murder charges.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/12/ap_haditha_071231/