General to testify at Camp Pendleton hearing for Marine charged in Haditha, Iraq, deaths
By APThursday, March 18, 2010
Marine general to testify at Haditha hearing
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — A Marine Corps spokesman says a four-star general will testify at a pretrial hearing in the biggest criminal case against U.S. troops to arise from the Iraq war.
Marines spokesman Lt. Col. David Griesmer said Thursday Gen. James Mattis is expected to address a military judge at Camp Pendleton on Monday concerning a defense motion to dismiss charges against Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich.
The sergeant is accused of voluntary manslaughter and other charges in a case involving the deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005.
The defense argues Mattis was unduly influenced by a Marine who investigated the killings and later became a top aide when the general was deciding who should be charged in the case.
The hearing is scheduled to last up to a week.
