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| US marines face Iraq murder case | US marines face Iraq murder case |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two US marines have been charged with murdering Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year, defence lawyers say. | Two US marines have been charged with murdering Iraqi civilians in Haditha last year, defence lawyers say. |
| Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich was charged with murdering 12 Iraqis and ordering his subordinates to kill six people, defence lawyer Neal Puckett said. | Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich was charged with murdering 12 Iraqis and ordering his subordinates to kill six people, defence lawyer Neal Puckett said. |
| Lance Cpl Justin Sharratt has also been charged with three counts of murder and up to six others could yet be charged. | Lance Cpl Justin Sharratt has also been charged with three counts of murder and up to six others could yet be charged. |
| Twenty-four men, women and children died in the incident. The US military initially said they died in unrest. | Twenty-four men, women and children died in the incident. The US military initially said they died in unrest. |
| Defence lawyers say a group of marines from Kilo Company in America's First Marine Division were engaged in a furious battle on 19 November 2005 in Haditha after a roadside bomb exploded, killing one marine and injuring two others. | Defence lawyers say a group of marines from Kilo Company in America's First Marine Division were engaged in a furious battle on 19 November 2005 in Haditha after a roadside bomb exploded, killing one marine and injuring two others. |
| DEATH IN HADITHA November 2005: Initial US military report One US marine killed in roadside bomb, two injuredExplosion also kills 15 Iraqi civiliansEight insurgents killed in fire-fight following blast January 2006: US military preliminary investigation One US marine killed in roadside bomb, two injuredFifteen civilians accidentally killed by US fire amid battle with insurgents March 2006: US military begins criminal investigation Massacre and cover-up? | DEATH IN HADITHA November 2005: Initial US military report One US marine killed in roadside bomb, two injuredExplosion also kills 15 Iraqi civiliansEight insurgents killed in fire-fight following blast January 2006: US military preliminary investigation One US marine killed in roadside bomb, two injuredFifteen civilians accidentally killed by US fire amid battle with insurgents March 2006: US military begins criminal investigation Massacre and cover-up? |
| It is known that five unarmed men were shot dead in a car when they approached the scene in a taxi and others, including women and children, died in three houses over the next few hours. | It is known that five unarmed men were shot dead in a car when they approached the scene in a taxi and others, including women and children, died in three houses over the next few hours. |
| Those who died included a 76-year-old man and a three-year-old child. There were also several women among the dead. | Those who died included a 76-year-old man and a three-year-old child. There were also several women among the dead. |
| An initial marine press statement said that some civilians were killed in the initial explosion and others in crossfire by insurgents. | An initial marine press statement said that some civilians were killed in the initial explosion and others in crossfire by insurgents. |
| But local people say that there were no bullets fired other than by the marines. | But local people say that there were no bullets fired other than by the marines. |
| The defence lawyers accept that innocent civilians may have died during the chaos but they deny premeditated killing. | The defence lawyers accept that innocent civilians may have died during the chaos but they deny premeditated killing. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has called the deaths a "terrible crime". | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has called the deaths a "terrible crime". |
| Dangerous place | Dangerous place |
| There was no full US investigation into what happened until three months later when video footage that was taken by a local human rights activist of the aftermath reached Time Magazine. | There was no full US investigation into what happened until three months later when video footage that was taken by a local human rights activist of the aftermath reached Time Magazine. |
| Once their report showed flaws in the initial marine statement, an investigation began. | |
| The Haditha inquiry is just one of a number the US military has been conducting into incidents of alleged unlawful killings by US forces in Iraq. | The Haditha inquiry is just one of a number the US military has been conducting into incidents of alleged unlawful killings by US forces in Iraq. |
| Haditha is the furthest in a string of settlements up the Euphrates that have been prominent in the Sunni insurgency. Anbar province, which includes Haditha, remains the most dangerous place in Iraq for Americans. | Haditha is the furthest in a string of settlements up the Euphrates that have been prominent in the Sunni insurgency. Anbar province, which includes Haditha, remains the most dangerous place in Iraq for Americans. |
| About 100 US troops have been killed there since August this year. | About 100 US troops have been killed there since August this year. |