thedrifter
05-28-08, 08:38 AM
Marine heads to trial on obstruction charges
By CHELSEA J. CARTER, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 13 minutes ago
A Marine intelligence officer faces charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements in connection with the killings of 24 Iraqis.
The court-martial of 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson — set to begin Wednesday — is the first case to come to trial in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war.
Authorities maintain eight Marines killed the Iraqis shortly after a roadside bomb hit a convoy, killing the driver of a Humvee and wounding two Marines.
Grayson, who claims he did nothing wrong, rejected a plea deal under which his charges would have been dismissed in exchange for an admission that he covered up the killings, his attorney has said.
Grayson of Springboro, Ohio, was not present at the scene of the killings on Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha, but is accused of telling a sergeant to delete photographs of the dead from his digital camera.
Investigators allege after the bombing, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich and a squad member allegedly shot five men by a car at the scene. Wuterich then allegedly ordered his men into several houses, where they cleared rooms with grenades and gunfire, killing unarmed civilians in the process.
Charges against all but three Marines, including Grayson, have been dropped.
Grayson's attorney has previously said the government was "grasping at straws" by pursuing charges against his client. Grayson is charged with two counts of making false official statements, two counts of trying to fraudulently separate from service, and one count each of attempt to deceive by making false statements and obstruction of justice by trying to impede an investigation.
Still to face court-martial are Wuterich, of Meriden, Conn., who faces voluntary manslaughter and other charges, and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani of Rangely, Colo., who has been charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order on allegations he mishandled the aftermath of the shooting deaths. Chessani was a battalion commander.
Ellie
By CHELSEA J. CARTER, Associated Press Writer
2 hours, 13 minutes ago
A Marine intelligence officer faces charges of obstruction of justice and making false statements in connection with the killings of 24 Iraqis.
The court-martial of 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson — set to begin Wednesday — is the first case to come to trial in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war.
Authorities maintain eight Marines killed the Iraqis shortly after a roadside bomb hit a convoy, killing the driver of a Humvee and wounding two Marines.
Grayson, who claims he did nothing wrong, rejected a plea deal under which his charges would have been dismissed in exchange for an admission that he covered up the killings, his attorney has said.
Grayson of Springboro, Ohio, was not present at the scene of the killings on Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha, but is accused of telling a sergeant to delete photographs of the dead from his digital camera.
Investigators allege after the bombing, Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich and a squad member allegedly shot five men by a car at the scene. Wuterich then allegedly ordered his men into several houses, where they cleared rooms with grenades and gunfire, killing unarmed civilians in the process.
Charges against all but three Marines, including Grayson, have been dropped.
Grayson's attorney has previously said the government was "grasping at straws" by pursuing charges against his client. Grayson is charged with two counts of making false official statements, two counts of trying to fraudulently separate from service, and one count each of attempt to deceive by making false statements and obstruction of justice by trying to impede an investigation.
Still to face court-martial are Wuterich, of Meriden, Conn., who faces voluntary manslaughter and other charges, and Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani of Rangely, Colo., who has been charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order on allegations he mishandled the aftermath of the shooting deaths. Chessani was a battalion commander.
Ellie