Judge asked to dismiss Hadithah charges

[unhappycamper]

Judge asked to dismiss Hadithah charges
By Chelsea J. Carter - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Feb 20, 2008 21:11:38 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Attorneys asked a military judge Wednesday to dismiss charges against a Marine Corps officer accused of failing to investigate the killing of 24 people by Marines in Hadithah, Iraq.

The attorneys from the Thomas More Law Center filed five motions in advance of a pretrial hearing for Lt. Col. Jeffrey R. Chessani.

He is the highest-ranking U.S. serviceman to face a combat-related court-martial since the Vietnam War. Chessani was charged with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order on allegations that he mishandled the aftermath of the Nov. 19, 2005, shooting deaths.

Among the motions the judge was expected to consider during the two-day hearing were requests to compel the deposition of Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., over comments the congressman made about Marines killing “in cold blood” in Hadithah, and motions to dismiss charges because of undue influence by commanding officers.

On the day of the shootings, a convoy was struck by a roadside bomb, killing one Marine and wounding another. In the aftermath, members of one squad killed 24 Iraqi civilians, authorities allege.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/02/ap_hadithah_080220/