CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A Marine intelligence officer was alternately portrayed at his court-martial Thursday as a liar who helped cover up the killings of 24 Iraqi men, women and children and the “fall guy” for a botched investigation.
Lt. Col. Paul H. Atterbury, the prosecutor, said in his opening statement that Lt. Andrew Grayson lied to investigators to cover up the Nov. 19, 2005, killings in the Iraqi city of Hadithah.
But Grayson’s attorney said the officer had no motive to lie about the killings because he wasn’t there when they happened.
“Lieutenant Grayson is nothing more than a fall guy in a botched investigation under intense media pressure,” Maj. William A. Santmyer told the jury of seven officers.
Grayson, who says 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.
