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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Marine avoids Iraq murder charge | Marine avoids Iraq murder charge |
| (about 16 hours later) | |
| The alleged leader of US troops who killed 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians in 2005 in Haditha will not face murder charges, a US Marines spokesman said. | |
| Sgt Frank Wuterich, 27, will stand trial for voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, dereliction of duty and other charges, officials said. | Sgt Frank Wuterich, 27, will stand trial for voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, dereliction of duty and other charges, officials said. |
| The decision was made by Lt Gen Samuel Helland, who is overseeing the case. | The decision was made by Lt Gen Samuel Helland, who is overseeing the case. |
| Sgt Wuterich is the last of four marines to have the murder charge against him dropped. | Sgt Wuterich is the last of four marines to have the murder charge against him dropped. |
| Another marine, 1st Lt Andrew Grayson, was ordered to face court-martial for making false official statements and other charges. | Another marine, 1st Lt Andrew Grayson, was ordered to face court-martial for making false official statements and other charges. |
| 'Insurgent gunfight' | 'Insurgent gunfight' |
| Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, died at Haditha, in Anbar province, on 19 November 2005. | Twenty-four Iraqi civilians, including three women, seven children and several elderly men, died at Haditha, in Anbar province, on 19 November 2005. |
| Iraqi witnesses say the shootings were in retaliation for a roadside bomb that killed one of the marines, Lance Cpl Miguel Terrazas, as his convoy drove through the town. | Iraqi witnesses say the shootings were in retaliation for a roadside bomb that killed one of the marines, Lance Cpl Miguel Terrazas, as his convoy drove through the town. |
| The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) that killed L/Cpl Terrazas, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. | The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) that killed L/Cpl Terrazas, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents. |
| But Iraqi witnesses said the US troops shot dead five unarmed men in a car when they approached the scene of the bombing in a taxi. | But Iraqi witnesses said the US troops shot dead five unarmed men in a car when they approached the scene of the bombing in a taxi. |
| They were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. | They were then accused of killing 19 other civilians in three houses nearby over the next few hours. |
| Despite the accusations, there was no full US investigation into what happened until January 2006, when video footage emerged of the aftermath, shot by a local human rights activist. | Despite the accusations, there was no full US investigation into what happened until January 2006, when video footage emerged of the aftermath, shot by a local human rights activist. |