NPR: Marine Charged in Haditha Slayings May Be Cleared

Marine Charged in Haditha Slayings May Be Cleared

A hearing officer has recommended that all charges be dropped against Marine Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt in the killings of Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005. The Los Angeles Times reports:

Lt. Col. Paul Ware said conflicting statements by Iraqis, inconclusive forensic evidence and questionable legal theories used by the prosecution were inadequate to send Sharratt to a court-martial on charges of killing three Iraqi brothers.

The Washington Post reports that Sharratt was never linked to a major role in the group of houses where most of the Iraqi civilians were allegedly killed. Sharratt has said that he shot three or four men who he believed were threatening him with weapons later in another house.

Ware recommended that Sharratt be given immunity to testify in other cases connected to the Haditha incidents on Nov. 19, 2005. Two other Marines are charged with murder, and four officers in the unit are charged with failing to investigate.

As the Post reports, the shooting involving Sharratt "came hours after Marines shot five unarmed men who were ordered out of a car on a residential street and after a squad stormed into two nearby houses, using grenades and rifles to kill numerous people. Those shootings are still under intense scrutiny and will be the subject of future military hearings."

Another Marine has already been cleared in the case. Cpl. Sanick P. Dela Cruz, who acknowledged shooting at the men near the car after they were down, was granted immunity to testify. (Dela Cruz has already told a military hearing that Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich shot the five men outside the cab as they stood still with their hands in the air, then told him to lie about it.)

5:16 PM ET | 07-11-2007 | permalink

Comments

Police can kill any one they want and get away with it by stating "I feared for my life". In combat a Marine or soldier or any member of the armed forces should be able to kill any one they want and get away with it as long as they fear for thier life. In WWII there was plenty of murdering on Japanese and probably other enemy forces by Americans, why not try them after the fact, murder is murder, unless you fear for your life and have the responsibility to protect and or serve. I am a USMC, Viet Nam vet!

Sent by Albert J. Mendoza | 8:52 AM ET | 07-12-2007

Is Albert J. Mendoza serious? Is this a joke? It sounds like his argument is "Well, murder happens, so let's not get too worked up about it."

Sent by Mark | 10:23 AM ET | 07-12-2007

That the incident was investigated only after Time magazine started asking questions, has to say something about the military's concern for civilians, international law, and human decency. Unfortunetly, I will not be surprised if those involved get nothing but a slap on the wrist.

Sent by Sandra Soler | 4:10 PM ET | 08-09-2007

Now if they will just drop the charges against the rest of our troops and stop allowing liberal media to demonise our armed forces...

Sent by Larry McDonald | 1:14 PM ET | 09-08-2007

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