Tag: Marines
Posted on Wed Apr 18, 2007 at 01:03:00 AM EST
Tags: Haditha, Marines (all tags)
Charges against one of the Marines in the Haditha killings have been dropped, but it's not because he wasn't involved.
Sgt. Sanick Dela Cruz, 24, had been charged with premeditated murder and making a false report in the November 19, 2005, deaths, which damaged U.S. prestige and led to international condemnation.
``Charges against him were dismissed on April 2 after the government balanced his low level of culpability in the alleged crime against the potential value of his testimony,'' a Marine Corps statement said.
Two dozen Iraqi men, women and children were killed in this raid.
Three Marines remain charged with murder and four others are charged with dereliction of duty for failing to properly report and investigate the shooting deaths of the two dozen Iraqi men, women and children.
Was this deal really necessary? Why not make Dela Cruz plead to the dereliction of duty count? Why reward him with a complete dismissal? How trustworthy will his testimony be?
TalkLeft's prior coverage of the Haditha killings is accessible here.
(8 comments) Permalink :: Comments
Posted on Thu Dec 21, 2006 at 06:48:00 PM EST
Tags: Haditha, Marines (all tags)
Bump and Update: Iraqis want the Marines charged in an Iraqi court. They fear they won't be held accountable in the U.S.
Update: Four Marines have been charged with murder. In all, eight marines have been charged with crimes in the Haditha killings.
Bump and Update: Twelve counts of murder have been filed against Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich who commanded the marine squad near Haditha when 24 people were killed.
Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who commanded a squad of marines near the town of Haditha in November last year faces 12 individual counts of murder and an additional count for ordering the troops under his charge to "shoot first, ask questions later", the charge sheet released to his attorney, Neil Puckett, said.
The charges do not include premeditated murder, and Sgt Wuterich faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Bump and Update: Charges will be announced at 4:00 pm ET.
(6 comments, 294 words in story) There's More :: Permalink :: Comments
