Wuterich allegedly ordered 'shoot first and ask questions later' [Haditha Marines]

North County Times ^ | December 27, 2006 | MARK WALKER

[RedRover]

NORTH COUNTY-- The man at the center of accusations that Marines under his control murdered 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year ordered his troops to "shoot first and ask questions later," according to a prosecution document.

The document known as a "Charge Sheet" alleges that Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich issued those orders "or words to that effect" during the incident that took place on Nov. 19, 2005. In doing so, Marine Corps prosecutors further allege, the 26-year-old Connecticut native disregarded so-called rules of engagement directives that required he "have positive identification prior to engaging a target."

The four-page document obtained this week by the North County Times also accuses Wuterich of directing a corporal charged in the case to lie by telling investigators that Iraqi army members shot and killed four men who emerged from a taxi that happened upon the scene. The corporal also was directed to falsely state that he had ordered the men to stop running.

In the lawsuit version, Wuterich said the men in the taxi were "military-aged" and that the car was "lingering" by the site. After they ignored commands to stop, his lawsuit says, the four Iraqis were killed as part of a standard procedure to "shoot suspicious people fleeing a bombing."

Wuterich, charged with 13 counts of murder, two counts of soliciting another to commit an offense and making a false statement, stands by what was in his lawsuit filed last summer, said Mark Zaid, one of his two civilian attorneys, on Wednesday.

"Our take is that any differences go to the heart of what this case is all about and whether the actions that were taken were appropriate," Zaid said during a telephone interview. "The Charge Sheet is based on what others might have said, and a great deal of this case will come down to what Sgt. Wuterich and the other Marines were thinking."

Charges and evidence

Prosecutors this week sent defense attorneys a computer disk containing thousands of pages of investigative material, information that one lawyer said will take days, if not weeks, to read and sort through.

It was one week ago today that the Marine Corps announced the results of a nine-month investigation into what happened at Haditha. In addition to Wuterich, Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz was charged with five counts of murder and one of making a false statement; Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt was charged with three counts of murder; and Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum was charged with two counts of murder, four counts of negligent homicide and one count of assault.

Prosecutors also filed criminal charges against four officers, the highest number of officers accused of any wrongdoing in Iraq in a single incident since the U.S. invasion in March 2003.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani was charged with failing to properly investigate what happened under his command and two counts of dereliction of duty.

Also charged was the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment's legal officer at the time, Capt. Randy Stone, the first legal affairs officer ever charged with criminal acts in a war setting, according to Gary Solis, a Georgetown University law professor who spent more than two decades as a Marine Corps legal officer.

Another accused officer is Capt. Lucas McConnell, the man commanding the Kilo Company squad that included Wuterich and the other enlisted defendants. McConnell is charged with two counts of dereliction of duty.

The fourth officer indicted in the Haditha killings is platoon commander 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, accused of two counts of dereliction of duty, and one count each of obstruction of justice and making a false statement.

Jack Zimmermann, a Texas-based attorney who is representing Tatum, said Wednesday that analyzing the government's case and the hundreds of interviews, reports and related documents it has now provided will be a painstaking process.

"It took the government and all its lawyers nine months to investigate and put together its case. No reasonable person should expect we can digest all the information very quickly."

Victims and discrepancies

In a release distributed to reporters last week, the Marine Corps identified 21 Iraqis who died at Haditha. While the Marine colonel who announced the charges said last week that there were 24 victims, three of them remain unidentified, a discrepancy that neither the Marine Corps nor defense attorneys was immediately able to address Wednesday.

"The charges that have been preferred reflect the deaths that are supported by the investigation at this point," a statement issued by the Marine Corps said. "The investigation is ongoing and there is always the potential for additional charges."

That is one of the many discrepancies that attorney Zaid said will go to the heart of his client's defense, and likely those of the other seven defendants, none of whom is confined as a result of a decision by Lt. Gen. James Mattis, commander of Marine Corps forces in Iraq and the "convening authority" over the Haditha case.

According to Wuterich and the other Marines at Haditha, the incident began when a convoy of four Humvees was passing through the city at about 7:30 a.m. A massive explosion from a bomb embedded in the road destroyed one of the Humvees, killing 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas of El Paso, Texas.

A short time later, the Marines said, they began taking small-arms fire, prompting an eventual storming of nearby homes where most of the Iraqis were killed.

"There is no dispute now that the Marines came under fire," Zaid said, pointing to the Marine Corps release announcing the decision that confirmed that aspect. "So what Congressman Murtha has said is now completely unsubstantiated."

As a result of the bombing and small-arms fire, Zaid said the rules of engagement will be a key factor in the case.

"They were absolutely following the rules as they understood them to be," Zaid said of his client and the other enlisted Marines. "I don't represent murderers, and I don't believe Sgt. Wuterich is a murderer."

Grayson called victim of politics

Joseph Casas, a San Diego attorney who represented a Marine private accused in the kidnapping and death of a retired Iraqi policeman in April (an unrelated case involving a different Camp Pendleton unit), has been retained to represent Grayson in the Haditha case.

Casas said he believed the Marine Corps was pressured to charge the officers in the Haditha case because of the worldwide outrage expressed when the incident came to light.

"It is clear that military investigators, evidently bowing to political pressure, were on a witch hunt to find a cover-up," Casas said Wednesday. "1st Lt. Grayson is a consummate Marine. He is saddened that the Marine Corps has targeted him, but he is confident that the military justice system will confirm his innocence."

Casas, who represented Pfc. John Jodka III in the unrelated April kidnapping and killing of the former Iraqi policeman in the village of Hamdania, said Grayson had been recommended for a Bronze Star with combat distinguishing marker for his actions in Iraq last year.

That award has been put on hold pending the outcome of the case against Grayson.

"Based on my conversations with 1st Lt. Grayson regarding the Haditha incident and my initial review of the facts and evidence, I am unequivocally convinced that military investigators barked up the wrong tree with this Marine officer," Casas said.

-- Contact staff writer Mark Walker at (760) 740-3529 or mlwalker@nctimes.com.

[StarCMC]

BTTT!!!!

[StarCMC]

It's a freaking war, either fight or go home.

You are so right. I think that'd make a dang good tagline.

[jazusamo]

"There is no dispute now that the Marines came under fire," Zaid said, pointing to the Marine Corps release announcing the decision that confirmed that aspect. "So what Congressman Murtha has said is now completely unsubstantiated."

Mr. Zaid should definitely get an award for tactfulness, he could just as easily have said Murtha is a blow hard and a liar and he would have been correct.

Mr. Zaid deals in facts and Murtha deals in hearsay, half truths and character assassination.

[jazusamo]

Aside from the fact that it's basic, common knowledge to anyone following the case, you mean? Try looking in the article itself, where it says Charges and Evidence.

I would not only be hesitant to assert what is basic common knowledge in this case but would not get too over zealous in supporting the Charges and Evidence at this point in the case.

As for the basic common knowledge, most of it has come from the media and a loud-mouthed congressman and the majority of it was based on unnamed sources and a Time magazine article.

As for the Charges and Evidence, Lt. Pantano was also charged with murder and they supposedly had evidence. All the charges were dropped in the fifth day of the courts-martial.

I choose to support these Marines and their families until such time they have been found guilty in a military court.

[RedRover]

BTTT!

[RedRover]

lilycicero has done some great work so stay tuned for an announcement soon about a SSgt. Frank Wuterich Defense Fund.

[RedRover]

You're welcome, Unc. Boys like your nephew need the homefront in their corner.

[pinkpanther111]

Welcome Lilycicero!

[freema]

Welcome lily!

[lilycicero]

You are all such rock stars...I am thrilled to be a part of this and helping out anyway I can with you.
One thing...can somebody clue me in what the heck is BTTT???
Crude maybe? I can appreciate crude.

[panthermom]

As I recall, the townspeople and their Mayor, for lack of a better word, had met with the commanders of Kilo compamy a week after the fight and nothing was ever mentioned about it. It was until later when the reporter from Time Magazine showed up that these charges were made. After the charges were made by the locals, it was requested that the bodies be exhumed to find out what happened. Under islamic law, the head Muslim can honor that request and he refused.

[jazusamo]

Not crude, Lily. It means Back To The Top, it's an affirmation.

Here's a site with a list of abbreviations and acronyms. :-)

[RedRover]

Crude maybe?

Naw, Freepmail is for crudities (Not that I'd know anything about that first-hand, mind you. I tried being crude once and Just A Nobody sent me to my room.)

[lilycicero]

Whew...I thought it was some inside joke you have against the Murtha. No name calling needed, it is obvious what he doesn't stand for.

[Steel Wolf]

As for the Charges and Evidence, Lt. Pantano was also charged with murder and they supposedly had evidence. All the charges were dropped in the fifth day of the courts-martial.

I choose to support these Marines and their families until such time they have been found guilty in a military court.

That's very reasonable. I'm not saying they're guilty or innocent. I'm simply pointing out why this event incurred an investigation and trial. The government is accusing these men of specific charges for a specific reason, as I noted. That's all they are at this point. Accusastions. They can accuse me of trying to hijack the space shuttle, but that doesn't make me guilty.

[jazusamo]

When it comes to Murthawi we don't always hide our crudeness but it's sometimes difficult not to use a word that'll get us suspended. LOL!

[genew]

Shoot the lawyers first and there won't be any questions later.

[radar101]

The "CIVILIANS" probably have the encounter choreographed, and run thru the script with the "News Stringer" (Al-Quaida associate) before.

[panthermom]

This plays right into the enemies hands. This is the one weapon that they have that we do not have an answer to. We respect and revere are elders, we cherish and love our women and children, we will do anything to protect them. Our enemy on the other hand could care less, they think nothing of surrounding them selves with the innocents, that is their stratedgy. They are using human beings as weapons against us. Even if these charges were not brought, do any of the people here think that those soldiers were happy that women and children were killed? I don't think so, they themselves are fathers, brothers and sons. I just wish we would start putting the blame on the real murderers, the insurgents. Unfortunately the rules have been written by the bad guys. I really don't see how we can possibly win this if we're not even playing on the same field. I don't agree with targeting innocent people, but it is time we to buck up, say a prayer and take it to these savages. Basically they are cowards, it would not take long. If we want to end this we need to show a united front.

[radar101]

Staff Sgt.Frank D. Wuterich

Marine Names Murtha in Defamation Suit

Congressman Discussed Killings Involving Serviceman’s Squad in Haditha, Iraq

By Josh White
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 2, 2006; Page A05

A Marine Corps staff sergeant who led the squad accused of killing two dozen civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will file a lawsuit today in federal court in Washington claiming that Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) defamed him when the congressman made public comments about the incident earlier this year.

Attorneys for Frank D. Wuterich, 26, argue in court papers that Murtha tarnished the Marine’s reputation by telling news organizations in May that the Marine unit cracked after a roadside bomb killed one of its members and that the troops "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Murtha also said repeatedly that the incident was covered up.

Murtha argued that the questionable deaths of 24 civilians were indicative of the difficulties and overpowering stress that U.S. troops are facing. The congressman, a former Marine, has been a leading advocate for withdrawing U.S. forces from Iraq.

In the court filing, obtained by The Washington Post, the lawyers say that Murtha made the comments after being briefed by Defense Department officials who "deliberately provided him with inaccurate and false information." Neal A. Puckett and Mark S. Zaid, suing for libel and invasion of privacy, also wrote that Murtha made the comments outside of his official scope as a congressman