Haditha Senior Officer May Be Charged Again
The North County Times reported on June 16, 2009 that the Commandant of the Marine Corps has chosen to appoint a new convening authority in the Haditha case of Lt Col Jeffrey Chessani. Chessani was charged with dereliction of duty after 24 Iraqi civilians were killed in Haditha in November 2005. His case was dismissed in April, by a Marine Corps judge, because of unlawful command influence tainting the prosecutions case.
US Marine Corps Commandant
The Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Conway, chose to appoint a new commanding general officer to decide if the Marine Corps will send Lt Col Chessani back to a court-martial. Options included completely dismissing the case against Chessani, preferring the same or different charges against him, or levying a lesser administrative discipline against the former battalion commander.
Chessani’s Command Responsibility
Lt Col Chessani was charged in December 2006, along with 7 other Marines alleged to be responsible for the deaths of 24 Iraq civilians in Haditha after an IED explosion killed a Marine and seriously wounded two others. Their commanding officer, Lt Col Chessani, was responsible for oversight and command and control. He was charged with dereliction of duty in failing to instigate a full investigation the day after the November 2005 event.
One Marine Waits for Court-Martial
The Squad Leader, SSgt Frank Wuterich, remains on active duty at Camp Pendleton waiting for his court-martial, 3 ½ years after the incident. His court-martial is on hold, while the government appeals a motion, where the judge denied them the use of the CBS 60 Minute outtakes from Sgt Wuterich’s 2007 interview. The Navy Court of Appeals heard oral arguments, on June 25, 2009. No matter which way the Navy Court of Appeals rules, either CBS or the Government are expected to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces; continuing to delay justice for SSgt Wuterich.
Tags: Haditha Murder Iraqi Citizens Marine Corps Commandant Wuterich Puckett Faraj Chessani
