Marine Gets Pendleton Court Hearing In Haditha Massacre
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) – A Marine faced a manslaughter charge during a military court hearing Wednesday for his alleged involvement in the killing of 24 Iraqi men, women and children.
Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich of Meriden, Connecticut, appeared at a hearing in a military court at Camp Pendleton in California but entered no plea.
He’ll appear for another hearing on February 25th. The 27-year-old Marine is accused of taking part in the massacre after a roadside bomb hit their convoy in Haditha, Iraq, in 2005.
Wuterich contends he was acting under proper rules of engagement when he ordered his men to assault several houses, which they cleared with grenades and gunfire.
He could face up to 160 years in prison if he’s convicted of voluntary manslaughter and other crimes.
The killings happened in November 2005 after a roadside bomb hit a Marine convoy, killing Lance Corporal Miguel Terrazas of El Paso.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
