Free Republic

I can’t believe I’m writing these words: Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III is going on trial – again. Twice, Hutchins’ conviction by a military court martial for unpremeditated murder in Iraq has been overturned due to factors precluding a fair trial. That means that twice, following Hutchins’ initial conviction in 2007, he has been released from the brig a free man. After his conviction was overturned the first time, there were eight months of freedom in 2010. Then, on the day his wife Reyna found out she was pregnant with their second child, Hutchins, a third-generation Marine, returned to prison....

CAMP PENDLETON -- A jury on Thursday convicted a Marine sergeant of second-degree murder and conspiracy in the death of an Iraqi man on April 26, 2006. Squad leader Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins, who was accused of being the leader of a plot to snatch and kill an Iraqi man near the village of Hamdania, faces life in prison for the conspiracy charge. It was unclear Thursday afternoon whether there was a minimum sentence for the murder conviction. Hutchins was charged with premeditated murder, but the jury chose a lesser charge for which to find him guilty. He was acquitted of...

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Friends and family are rallying around the seven Marines and a Navy medic charged with killing an Iraqi civilian, setting up Web sites to raise money and draw attention to what they claim is an unfair prosecution. The troops are charged with premeditated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted. Supporters are scrambling to raise tens of thousands of dollars to pay defense attorneys. "We are not rich, but we are doing anything we can," said Diann Shumate of Matlock, Wash., mother of 20-year-old Marine Lance Cpl. Jerry Shumate Jr. Military prosecutors allege the...

ABC News has learned that charges will be filed against 7 Marines and One Navy Corpsmen. The charges are expected to include murder, conspiracy and obstruction of justice in relation to the killing of an unarmed Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania.