From NBC San Diego, "Marine Lawyer Faces Tribunal In Haditha Case: Stone Accused Of Botching Investigation Of Civilian Deaths"
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine Corps lawyer charged with failing to properly investigate 24 civilian deaths in Iraq rose quickly from his chair at the defense table as his name was called by a senior hearing officer Tuesday morning.
Capt. Randy Stone, 34, faces three counts in connection with the Marines' probe into the Haditha killing spree in November 2005 involving the battalion Stone served as legal officer.
"Captain Stone, you don't need to stand unless I ask you to," said the hearing officer, Marine Maj. Thomas McCann. "Yes, sir," Stone replied.
For the record, McCann acknowledged that he and Stone had met once at Camp Lejeune, N.C., exchanging greetings and brief small talk.
Stone and his attorneys had no objections to McCann presiding over the Article 32 hearing, the military's equivalent of a grand jury proceeding. McCann will hear evidence and recommend whether the charges should go to trial.
This is the most sweeping criminal case to date involving civilian casualties in the Iraq war. Stone could face two years behind bars if convicted of dereliction of duty and failing to carry out a lawful order in connection with his duties to properly conduct an investigation into violations of the law of war.
He is one of four Marine officers brought up on such charges in the case. He is believed to be the first legal officer prosecuted for actions arising from a wartime incident.
Three enlisted Marines are charged with unpremeditated murder and negligent homicide in the civilians' deaths, which followed an attack on a Humvee that killed a lance corporal and wounded two others.
Eight Marines from the battalion have been granted immunity to testify for the prosecution.
Legal formalities and skirmishing over documents and exhibits occupied the hearing's first morning session.
Civilian defense attorney Charles Gittins aggressively noisily filed numerous objections to McCann's rulings on relevance and admissability, and claimed that Stone had not been read his rights during a certain session with investigators probing his conduct.
McCann told both sides to give him prior notice if any classified information would be touched on, so the hearing room could be cleared of spectators lacking required security clearances.
The hearing is expected to proceed for several days.
Updates will follow as the testimony unfolds.
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