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 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 [...]

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 still face courts-martial [...]

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 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 [...]

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 Update: History [...]

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 of [...]

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 [...]

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 judge [...]

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 be tried [...]