Arraignment for accused Marines set

Arraignment for accused Marines set

By: North County Times -

CAMP PENDLETON ---- Arraignment for two Marines accused in the killing of an Iraqi man in April is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday in a base courtroom, Marine Corps officials announced Monday.

Col. Steven Folsom will serve as the military judge over the proceedings for Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda and Pfc. John Jodka III, a base announcement said.

During the session, the two Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment will have an opportunity to enter a formal plea to the premeditated murder and related charges filed against them on June 21 in connection with the death of Hashim Ibrahim Awad in the village of Hamdania.

The judge also may establish a schedule for some of the pretrial actions before the cases proceed to courts-martial.

Last month, Jodka, Magincalda and Lance Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate Jr. were ordered by Lt. Gen. James N. Mattis, commanding general of Camp Pendleton's I Marine Expeditionary Force, to stand trial for Awad's death and related offenses, including conspiracy and kidnapping.

An arraignment date for Shumate has not been announced.

Pretrial hearings for five other defendants from the squad who are also charged in the case will take place later this month.

Numerous articles and two videos of the accused men's relatives speaking with North County Times reporters are available at nctimes.com.

More information on the case from the Marine Corps' perspective, including a timeline and related information, is available on the Web site www.usmc.mil/lapa/iraq-investigations.htm.

Ellie