Another Marine off the hook

[sabang]

Three out of four enlisted Marines charged with the Haditha killings have now had all charges dropped against them. The Haditha killings involved 24 Iraqi's being killed in four homes in haditha, almost all unarmed. So far, no explanation forthcoming-

Case Against U.S. Marine Is Dismissed

"CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Hours before his court-martial was set to begin, all charges were dismissed Friday against one of two remaining enlisted marines involved in a combat action that killed 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005, the Marine Corps announced.

With little public explanation, a Marine general in charge of the prosecution dropped the charges against Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, who was among four enlisted marines originally charged with murder in the case.

The charges against him had been reduced to involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault for what prosecutors said was his role in shooting a group of unarmed women and children.

As a result of the dismissal, Corporal Tatum’s squad leader, Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich, is the only remaining enlisted marine, and the only infantryman who was involved in the Haditha killings, still facing charges in the case. His trial is likely to begin this summer, lawyers said.

Charges against the other two enlisted marines were dropped previously.
A court-martial of an officer, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, in charge of the battalion Sergeant Wuterich and Corporal Tatum were part of, is to begin in late April. Colonel Chessani is charged with dereliction of duty for failing to properly investigate the Haditha killings.

The killings occurred on Nov. 19, 2005, when a squad of infantrymen from Third Battalion, First Marines, swept through a group of Iraqi homes in search of attackers after a roadside bomb exploded near their convoy, killing a marine. Over a period of hours, marines assaulted four Iraqi homes, killing 24 people, almost all unarmed."

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/wo...html?ref=world

[barbaro]

It seems odd that "hours before the court martial was to begin" charges were dropped. Why so late in the process?

[britmaveric]

Deal to testify perhaps?

[sabang]

I'm curious myself- hopefully more details forthcoming.

Surely we have a right to know- 24 people being wiped out in four house invasions, almost all unarmed and mostly women and children is no 'friendly fire' incident.

[Texpat]

Um ... friendly fire involves fratricide. I highly doubt these Marines had any fraternal feelings toward the victims following the cowardly killing of their mate.

[Jet Gorgon]

These are tragic deaths but ya, why now? And also why the "almost all unarmed"?

[sabang]

These are tragic deaths but ya, why now? And also why the "almost all unarmed"?

The 'why now' is because of the serial acquittals. One Marine still faces charges, as does an officer for failing to properly investigate, or something like that.

I'm relying on memory, but I think 2 or 3 adults were armed- AK's, not RPG's, and no incriminating evidence was found in any house. The sad fact seems to be that these people had the misfortune to live next to where a Marine was killed in a roadside bombing, so his angry and grieving colleagues massacred them.

Now, if you were going to bomb a squad of Marines, would you do it right next to where your family lives? Didn't think so.

[Norton]

Deal to testify perhaps?

Confirmed by CNN report I saw today. Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich is the target of the prosecution.