CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A Marine staff sergeant was ordered Monday to stand trial on charges stemming from the 2005 killings of 24 Iraqis in the town of Hadithah after a Marine was slain in a roadside blast.
Frank D. Wuterich is being directly charged in the deaths of several of the Iraqis and indirectly for the other deaths for failing to supervise his squad.
Under a decision by Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commander of the Marine Corps Central Command, Wuterich will be tried on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.
On Monday, Helland also ordered 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson to stand trial on charges of false official statements and obstruction of justice, after a sergeant testified that Grayson ordered him to destroy pictures taken of the Iraqis killed in the Nov. 19, 2005, incident.
Two others also face court- martial in the Hadithah case: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani of Rangely, Colo., the former battalion commander, is charged with failing to order a war- crimes investigation, and Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.
Los Angeles Times
