Haditha Update: LtCol Jeffrey Chessani To Retire As Lieutenant Colonel

LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, battalion commander for the Haditha Marines, is not punished.

Haditha Update: Marines Seek To Revive Charges Against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani

Marine Corps looks to reinstate criminal charges against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani for his role in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

Haditha Update: Wuterich’s Lawsuit Against Murtha Dismissed By Appellate Court

Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich’s lawsuit against Congressman John Murtha, regarding statements the congressman made about the deaths of civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has been dismissed.

Haditha Update: Military Judge Reviews 60 Minutes Tape in Wuterich Case

Military judge rules that CBS does not have to turnover tapes of an interview with SSgt Frank Wuterich. The interview was about his involvement in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha Iraq.

Haditha Update: Military Judge Must Review 60 Minutes Tapes In Wuterich Court Martial

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich is facing a court-martial for his involvement in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha, Iraq. The prosecution in the court-martial of SSgt Wuterich had sought to subpoena portions of an interview he did with 60 Minutes.  The military judge rejected the subpoena.  The prosecution appealed the [...]

Haditha Update: Justin Sharratt Sues Congressman John Murtha

Former Marine involved in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq is suing Congressman John Murtha for slander and invasion of privacy.

Haditha Update: Wuterich To Appeal Ruling On CBS Tape

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich is one of the Marines charged with a crime relating to the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq.  Previously, the government attempted to subpoena unaired portions of an interview he did with CBS, for the program 60 Minutes.  The military judge denied the request for the tapes.  The government appealed [...]

Haditha Update: LtCol Jeffrey Chessani Charges Dismissed

In a hearing on 17JUN08, a military judge, Col Stephen Folsom, USMC, dismissed all charges against LtCol Jeffrey Chessani. Col Folsom ruled that the decision to charge LtCol Chessani was a product of unlawful command influence (UCI). Col Folsom ruled, the participation of Col. John Ewers as an investigator and report writer in the Haditha [...]

Haditha Update: LtCol Chessani Charges May Be Dropped

Defense lawyers for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani believe all charges may be dropped. They base this on a signal from the military judge, Col Folsom, who previously scheduled a hearing for two days and has now changed the session to last one hour. At this session the military judge will rule on the motion to dismiss [...]

Haditha Update: Lt Grayson Not Guilty

Lt Andrew Grayson was acquitted on 4JUN08. According to reports: Cheers erupted as the seven-officer panel cleared 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, who was the first of three Marines to be tried in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving Iraqi deaths linked to the war. The verdict came just five hours after deliberations began. Two Marines [...]

Haitha Update: Court-Martial Of Lt Grayson, Days 2 & 3

During the first day of trial, Lt Grayson’s defense counsel, Maj William Santmyer, told the jury “Lieutenant Grayson is nothing more than a fall guy in a botched investigation under intense media pressure,” The prosecution maintains that Lt Grayson lied to investigators to help cover up the killing of civilians in Haditha, Iraq. The thrust [...]

Haditha Update: Court-Martial Of Lt Andrew Grayson, Day 1

The court-martial of Marine intelligence officer 1stLt Andrew Grayson began on 28MAY08. Lt Grayson is accused of ordering a subordinate to delete photographs of the scene at Haditha, and making false official statements relating to the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Lt Grayson is also charged with attempting to fraudulently leave the Marine [...]

Haditha Update: Trial Set For Lt Andrew Grayson

The court martial of Lt Andrew Grayson is set to begin on 28MAY08. Lt Grayson charges for dereliction of duty, false official statement, and obstructing justice. All of the charges relate to his failure to investigate the events surrounding the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq. yojoe out For more on Haditha: Haditha Haditha [...]

Haditha Update: Chessani Judge Finds Unlawful Command Influence

In a hearing aboard Camp Pendleton, a military judge, Col Folsom found that “top Marine Corps officers were unlawfully influenced by a general’s legal adviser when they decided to file criminal charges against a colonel whose troops killed two dozen civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha in 2005″ This ruling came in the court-martial [...]

Haditha Update: Court Martial Of LCpl Stephen Tatum Begins

The court-martial of Lance Corporal Stephen B. Tatum, USMC, begins today, 28MAR08. LCpl Tatum faces the following charges: Charge I: Violation of the UCMJ, Article 119 (Involuntary Manslaughter) (Maximum punishment: dishonorable discharge, forfeiture of all pay and allowances, and confinement for 10 years): Specification 1: by culpable negligence or while perpetrating an offense directly affecting [...]

Haditha Update: Military Judge Rejects Subpoena Of 60 Minutes Tape

In the the court-martial of Staff Sergeant Frank D. Wuterich, the AP is reporting, Military judge Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meeks said prosecutors had other avenues to get the evidence needed in the case against Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich. Prosecutors say the interview contained admissions of crimes in the attack. CBS attorneys had told the [...]

Haditha Update: Lt Andrew Grayson Arraigned

First Lieutenant Andrew Grayson was arraigned on 23JAN08. Note: it is not uncommon for accused to reserve pleas, it is the norm. For more information on Haditha. yojoe out

Haditha Update: SSgt Wuterich and 1stLt Grayson Will Face Court-Martial

On 31DEC07, Marine Corps officials announced that Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich and First Lieutenant Andrew Grayson will be sent to court-martial for their involvement in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha. SSgt Wuterich will be tried for voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, obstruction of justice, and dereliction of duty. 1stLt Grayson will [...]

Haditha Update: Motion Hearing For Lance Corporal Stephen B. Tatum

On 19DEC07, there will be a motions hearing for LCpl Stephen B. Tatum.LCpl Tatum is charges with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault. All of the charges stem from his alleged involvement in the deaths of Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

Haditha Update: LtCol Chessani and LCpl Tatum Face Court-Martial

The decision has been made to send Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery Chessani and Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum to courts-martial. LtCol Chessani faces charges of dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order. LCpl Tatum faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, and aggravated assault. For more background on Haditha. yojoe out

Haditha Update: No Murder Charges For SSgt Frank Wuterich

The officer investigating the charges against Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich has recommended that he not be charged with murder. LtCol Paul Ware has recommended that SSgt Wuterich be charged with negligent homicide. The defense had emphasized that the rules of engagement in Iraq are not as clear as they are in a courtroom. yojoe out [...]