Clipmarks | Stephen tatum Clips

3rd marine cleared of Haditha charges

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 03:37:10 GMT

clipped by: jklugman
clipper's remarks:

Officials close to the Haditha case said they think prosecutors dismissed the charges in order to pursue Wuterich aggressively at trial. The cases against three of the Marines accused of shooting civilians have fallen apart, and Wuterich remains the only one left for prosecutors to target for accountability. Wuterich led the Marine squad and allegedly told his troops, as they approached a group of civilian homes that day, to shoot first and ask questions later.

Clip Source: www.washingtonpost.com

The Marine Corps yesterday dismissed all charges against one of the Marines accused of killing women and children in the Iraqi town of Haditha in late 2005, the third time a Marine linked to the slayings has been exonerated

Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, who has admitted shooting civilians inside their homes as part of a pursuit of insurgents, was cleared and granted immunity to testify in further hearings related to the investigation. The move leaves only Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich to face charges in connection with the shootings on Nov. 19, 2005.

Although the Marines were at first accused of going on a rampage, the case has evolved into a far more complex examination of the Corps' rules of engagement and the general conduct of wartime operations in hostile residential areas.

Tags: haditha, marines, iraq, war, civilian-killings, stephen tatum, frank wuterich

Two marines to face Haditha trial

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 15:05:22 GMT

clipped by: sahara
clipper's remarks: Eight US soldiers were originally charged in connection with the killings, which sparked international outrage. After a report in Time magazine showed flaws in the initial marine statement, a preliminary investigation was begun. The inquiry confirmed civilians had been shot in their homes, but described the deaths as "collateral damage".
Sad, all around.

Clip Source: news.bbc.co.uk

Two US marines, including a battalion commander, are to face a court martial in connection with the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.

Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani is charged with dereliction of duty and failing to report and investigate the deaths.

L/Cpl Stephen Tatum is accused of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.

The two men are the first to be sent to court martial in the biggest criminal case involving civilian deaths in Iraq.

International outrage

The US military at first reported that the Iraqis had been killed by the improvised explosive device (IED) that killed L/Cpl Miguel Terrazas, or in a subsequent gunfight with insurgents.

HADITHA CHARGES

Lt Col Jeffrey R Chessani: Violation of a lawful order, dereliction

1st Lt Andrew A Grayson: Dereliction, false official statement, obstructing justice

Capt Lucas M McConnell: Dereliction; Charges dismissed

L/Cpl Stephen B Tatum: Involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault

Tags: iraq, war, soldiers

Marine tells of order to execute Haditha women and children

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 12:38:31 GMT

clipped by: Rasmus

Clip Source: rawstory.com

A US Marine was ordered to execute a room full of Iraqi women and children during an alleged massacre in Haditha that left 24 people dead, a military court heard Thursday.

The testimony came in the opening of a preliminary hearing for Marine Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings, the most serious war crimes allegations faced by US troops in Iraq.

The 27-year-old listened intently as Lance Corporal Humberto Mendoza recounted how Marines had responded after a roadside bomb attack on their convoy in Haditha on November 19, 2005 left one comrade dead.

At one house Wuterich gave an order to shoot on sight as Marines waited for a response after knocking on the door, said Mendoza.

During a subsequent search of the house, Mendoza said he received an order from another Marine, Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum, to shoot seven women and children he had found

Defense lawyers will argue that Wuterich followed established combat zone rules of engagement.

Tags: usa, iraq, iraq war, reconciliation, murder, civilians

Haditha Update: Article 32 Investigation for Sgt Frank Wuterich

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 03:33:12 GMT

clipped by: yojoe
clipper's remarks: Investigation into Marine charged with murder of Iraqi civilians in Haditha, Iraq.

Clip Source: dreadnaught.wordpress.com

The Article 32 investigation for Sgt Frank Wuterich, USMC, is set to begin on 30AUG07 aboard Camp Pendleton. LtCol Ware will be the investigating officer. LtCol Ware was the investigating officer for LCpl Stephen B. Tatum and and LCpl Justin L. Sharratt, in both cases he recommended no charges.

Tags: sgt-frank-wuterich, wuterich, ucmj, ltcol-ware, tatum, sharratt, marine, haditha, killing