Free Republic

A military judge has dismissed one of the charges against a Marine lieutenant accused of helping cover up a squad's killings of 24 Iraqis, including women and children. The judge dismissed an obstruction of justice charge Tuesday against 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson. Grayson is being court-martialed at Camp Pendleton on the remaining charges of making false official statements, trying to fraudulently separate from service and attempting to deceive by making false statements.

Hearing fact sheetThe hearing is scheduled to commence June 18, 2007.1st Lt. Andrew A. Grayson, of Springboro, Ohio, was 25-years-old and on his second tour of Iraq at the time of the Haditha incident. He joined the service in May 2003 through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. An intelligence officer with 2nd CI HUMINT Co., Lt. Grayson and SSgt. Justin Laughner gathered information about the ambush and subsequent battle on November 19, 2005. An exemplary Marine officer, Lt. Grayson was nominated for a Bronze Star before the investigation into Haditha began. Grayson's attorney, Joseph Casas, said the medal recommendation...