Posted on 12/22/2006 8:55:51 PM PST by RedRover
Eight Marines are charged in the deadliest criminal case to arise from the Iraq war, but prosecutors say the actions of just one led most directly to the deaths of 24 unarmed civilians and a subsequent attempted cover-up.
According to court papers, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, killed 12 people and was responsible for the deaths of six others in the Iraqi city of Haditha last year, telling three other Marines under his command to "shoot first and ask questions later, or words to that effect."The four are charged with unpremeditated murder, and four officers are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to report or properly investigate the killings.
After the killings, Wuterich lied about the circumstances, prosecutors say.
His lawyer, Neal Puckett, said he thinks prosecutors will try to pressure those serving under Wuterich to testify against him in exchange for reduced charges or sentences.
"They work really hard on the lesser actors to try to get them talk about the greater actors," Puckett said. "It's a common practice to flip the little guys against the big guys.
"If convicted of unpremeditated murder, the four could each face life in prison.In a similar case at Camp Pendleton, seven Marines and a Navy corpsman were charged with kidnapping and murdering an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania. Four pleaded guilty, agreeing to testify against others in return for reduced charges and prison sentences.
Military prosecutors have declined to discuss the case, which has drawn great interest in Iraq.Prosecutors say Wuterich, 26, of Meriden, Conn., showed a "wanton disregard for human life," murdering six people in a home after "disregarding the requirement to have positive identification prior to engaging a target.
Afterward, they say, he told his men to lie to investigators and himself gave a false statement when he said his squad came under fire from four men in a car.
All four Marines accused of murder have said through their lawyers that they followed rules of engagement after a roadside bomb killed one of their comrades. They say they came under small arms fire from nearby houses and responded appropriately, using approved tactics to eliminate the threat.
Besides Wuterich, the others facing unpremeditated murder charges in the case are Sgt. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, 24, of Chicago, Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 22, of Canonsburg, Pa., Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, 25, of Edmund, Okla.Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani, 42, of Rangely, Colo., 1st Lt. Andrew A. Grayson, 25, Capt. Lucas McConnell, Squad Leader Key to Haditha Case 31, of Napa, Calif., and Capt. Randy W. Stone, 34, face charges in connection with how the incident was investigated or reported.
Mostly, I'm sorry that this issue is distracting people from the good work and heroism of our troops fighting overseas -- there are so many thousands who do their job every day, under difficult circumstances. They deserve more notice and attention.
Big bump that, sky. And, if I can put in a plug for another Freeper, I'd encourage people to get on SandRat's ping list for war news you'll only find on FR.
Judging from your screen name, 68skylark, you and I are about the same age. No need to remind either of us about the anti-military horrors of the '60s and '70s. I see it coming again and hate it beyond words.
We killed 100,000 Tokyo civilians in a single night in May 1945. Anyone recall FDR or (SecWar) Stimson bringing the pilots up on murder charges? This is WARTIME. Americans have no idea how many French, Arab and other civilians were killed by our troops during the course of WWII fighting (thousands). The fact that we keep charging our men with all manner of crimes against the enemy in the middle of wartime illustrates how pathetically weak we have become as a nation, as a result of 40 years of liberal decay.
We cannot win with such pathetic faggots leading us. And the President allowed it all. From Abu Ghraib to Haditha. Absolutely pathetic weakness at the highest levels. Pray for our nation.
Thank you for the referral. Just doing my duty is all.
Gen. Bradley was slow to close the Falaise Gap for military reasons. Today, it'd be because CNN is broadcasting it live.
Agreed, skylark.
It is so frustrating the way this unfolded with Murtha and the media basically convicting these Marines months before an investigation was even completed.
They believed everything that was coming from an terrorist insurgent controlled town and practically nothing from our Marines who were there.
I believe a lot of what is said on these threads is venting by people who can do nothing else but want to support these Marines in some way and they and their families deserve that support. I know I am guilty of that myself at times.
no sir there has already been a verdict- for crying out loud- the paper this am said "Military sets an example" - the soldiers have already been convicted in the public eye! http://sacredscoop.com
As mentioned, we're using the main Haditha thread for new items that give fresh details or insight but may not merit their own thread. This way, we can stay up-to-date without having a hundred small threads.
Here is a procedural reference for you. http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/law/mcm.pdf
I sometimes misspeak (or mistype, in this instance) when I am passionate about a subject. Thanks for the correction.
Thanks, verity!
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