Court-martial set in civilian killings

A Marine Corps staff sergeant will face a court-martial on reduced charges stemming from the 2005 killing of 24 civilian men, women and children in Haditha, Iraq, officials said Monday.

Frank Wuterich, 27, of Meriden, Conn., will stand trial at Camp Pendleton on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.

The commanding general in the case, Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, dismissed charges of unpremeditated murder, soliciting another to commit an offense and making a false official statement.

Wuterich’s prosecution is part of the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war. Four enlisted Marines were initially charged with murder in the case, and four officers were charged with failing to investigate the deaths. Charges against several of the men have been dropped.