moderate libertarian
03-28-2012, 07:10 PM
Latest on the "Pendleton 8" case relating to Operation Iraqi Freedom:
Court upholds conviction of Marine in killing of unarmed Iraqi
March 24, 2012 | 9:32 am
The appeal rejected Friday asserted that Hutchins was denied a fair trial, among other reasons, because of undue command influence, ineffective counsel and because no testimony was presented about post-traumatic stress disorder and the battlefield conditions in Hamandiya.
Hutchins is one of eight troops accused of dragging a retired Iraqi police officer from his home, throwing him in a hole, killing him, and then telling superiors that he had been killed in a firefight. Hutchins, now 27, was a sergeant and, as the squad leader, was the senior Marine involved in the plot.
According to testimony, the killing was meant as a warning to villagers to stop helping insurgents plant roadside bombs that were killing and maiming Marines.The Marines were frustrated and angry that suspected insurgents were being released by Iraqi authorities.
Of the eight defendants, dubbed the Pendleton 8 by their supporters, only Hutchins is still behind bars. None of the others served more than 18 months. A court-martial jury at Camp Pendleton convicted Hutchins of unpremeditated murder and conspiracy.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/court-upholds-marine-killing-conviction.html
Court upholds conviction of Marine in killing of unarmed Iraqi
March 24, 2012 | 9:32 am
The appeal rejected Friday asserted that Hutchins was denied a fair trial, among other reasons, because of undue command influence, ineffective counsel and because no testimony was presented about post-traumatic stress disorder and the battlefield conditions in Hamandiya.
Hutchins is one of eight troops accused of dragging a retired Iraqi police officer from his home, throwing him in a hole, killing him, and then telling superiors that he had been killed in a firefight. Hutchins, now 27, was a sergeant and, as the squad leader, was the senior Marine involved in the plot.
According to testimony, the killing was meant as a warning to villagers to stop helping insurgents plant roadside bombs that were killing and maiming Marines.The Marines were frustrated and angry that suspected insurgents were being released by Iraqi authorities.
Of the eight defendants, dubbed the Pendleton 8 by their supporters, only Hutchins is still behind bars. None of the others served more than 18 months. A court-martial jury at Camp Pendleton convicted Hutchins of unpremeditated murder and conspiracy.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/court-upholds-marine-killing-conviction.html