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Haditha court martial trial opens | Haditha court martial trial opens |
(1 day later) | |
The first US court martial to arise from the 2005 killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in the northern Iraqi city of Haditha has begun in California. | The first US court martial to arise from the 2005 killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in the northern Iraqi city of Haditha has begun in California. |
Lt Andrew Grayson is charged with obstructing justice and making false statements in connection with the case. He rejects the allegations. | Lt Andrew Grayson is charged with obstructing justice and making false statements in connection with the case. He rejects the allegations. |
Prosecutors accuse US marines of killing 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children. | Prosecutors accuse US marines of killing 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including women and children. |
Five of the eight men initially accused have now had charges dismissed. | Five of the eight men initially accused have now had charges dismissed. |
Lt Grayson would also have had his charges dropped if he had accepted a plea deal and admitted that he covered up the killings, his lawyer said. | Lt Grayson would also have had his charges dropped if he had accepted a plea deal and admitted that he covered up the killings, his lawyer said. |
The court martial began in Camp Pendleton, California, with jury selection from a pool of officers and enlisted personnel. | The court martial began in Camp Pendleton, California, with jury selection from a pool of officers and enlisted personnel. |
They were then briefed in court on the case against Lt Grayson, who is charged with six counts of making false statements and obstructing justice. | They were then briefed in court on the case against Lt Grayson, who is charged with six counts of making false statements and obstructing justice. |
If found guilty, he could face up to 30 years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and dismissal from the Marine Corps. | If found guilty, he could face up to 30 years in prison, forfeiture of all pay and dismissal from the Marine Corps. |
Lt Grayson is the first of the three defendants to go on trial. | |
Criminal investigation | Criminal investigation |
The case stems from a roadside bombing in Haditha on 19 November 2005 which killed one marine, L/Cpl Miguel Terrazas, and injured two others. | The case stems from a roadside bombing in Haditha on 19 November 2005 which killed one marine, L/Cpl Miguel Terrazas, and injured two others. |
The dead in Haditha included women, children and elderly men | The dead in Haditha included women, children and elderly men |
The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by that explosion, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. | The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by that explosion, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. |
But Iraqi witnesses said the US troops shot dead five unarmed men when they approached the scene of the bombing in a car. | |
The troops were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. | The troops were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. |
Lt Grayson is alleged to have instructed a sergeant to delete digital photographs of the incident from his camera. | Lt Grayson is alleged to have instructed a sergeant to delete digital photographs of the incident from his camera. |
Despite the accusations, there was no full US investigation into what happened until January 2006, when video footage emerged of the aftermath, filmed by a local human rights activist. | |
A subsequent investigation by Time magazine suggested that most of the dead were shot by marines after the bombing - and in March 2006 a criminal investigation was launched. | A subsequent investigation by Time magazine suggested that most of the dead were shot by marines after the bombing - and in March 2006 a criminal investigation was launched. |
The following month, three officers in charge of troops in Haditha were stripped of their command and reassigned. | The following month, three officers in charge of troops in Haditha were stripped of their command and reassigned. |
Those accused of involvement in the incident have maintained they were reacting to insurgent fire. | Those accused of involvement in the incident have maintained they were reacting to insurgent fire. |
One of the men, Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich, faces a court martial on nine counts of voluntary manslaughter later this year. | One of the men, Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich, faces a court martial on nine counts of voluntary manslaughter later this year. |
The third marine to face a court martial will be battalion commander Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani, who has been charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order. | The third marine to face a court martial will be battalion commander Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani, who has been charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order. |