Ruling in Hadithah case expected today

[unhappycamper]

Ruling in Hadithah case expected today
By Chelsea J. Carter - The Associated Press
Posted : Tuesday Jun 17, 2008 7:12:42 EDT

SAN DIEGO — The fate of the prosecution of a Marine officer accused of failing to probe the killings of 24 Iraqis rests on whether a military judge finds that a four-star general was wrongfully influenced by an investigator when he decided to file charges.

The judge, Marine Col. Steven Folsom, has indicated he will deliver his ruling Tuesday on whether there was unlawful command influence in the prosecution of Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, the highest-ranking officer charged in the case.

Attorneys for Chessani say Folsom canceled a hearing on pretrial motions, saying he would only be addressing the issue of undue command influence.

“He said it would be the only matter discussed,” said Chessani’s civilian attorney, Brian Rooney.

It’s the strongest indication yet that the ruling could either end or significantly alter the prosecution of Chessani, one of three Marines to face charges stemming from the Nov. 19, 2005, shootings in Hadithah, Iraq, following a roadside bomb that killed one Marine and injured two others.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/06/ap_hadithah_061708/