http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/wuterich/ en-us Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:28:52 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts The CBS television network battled it out with the Marine Corps Wednesday morning at the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. The fight is over outtakes from a 60 Minutes interview with a Marine sergeant accused of killing civilians in Haditha, Iraq. Lawyers representing the three sides (the Marine Corps, CBS and SSgt Frank Wuterich) told the five-judge panel why, and why not, the Marine Corps should be entitled to video recordings the news program didn’t use. The interview was conducted by correspondent Scott Pelley for the 60 Minutes investigation, "The Killings in Haditha". It... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2085932/posts#comment Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:28:52 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081902/posts In the nearly two years since eight Camp Pendleton Marines were charged with killing 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, six of the men have been exonerated, and widespread interest in the case has waned. Still, the final chapters in the 2005 killings that reverberated around the world, affected the military's rules of engagement and played a large role in how the war was viewed have yet to be written. Appellate court hearings for the two remaining defendants over the next month will establish the outline of how Haditha's story will end. One of the defendants is the battalion commander at... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081902/posts#comment Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:24:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2055756/posts CAMP PENDLETON ---- The Marine Corps is going to battle with CBS in what could become a prominent First Amendment case stemming from one of the highest-profile incidents arising out of the Iraq war. At issue is whether government prosecutors should have access to outtakes from a "60 Minutes" interview of a Marine who in 2005 led his squad in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians, including several women and children. Legal experts and media advocates say the chances of the Marine Corps prevailing over the revered media giant are slim. Several news organizations have joined CBS in its fight... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2055756/posts#comment Sun, 3 Aug 2008 15:41:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2051696/posts Bob Weimann | July 25, 2008 | Pdf version______________________________________________________ “For as long as men and women have talked about war, they have talked about it in terms of right and wrong. And for almost as long, some among them have derided such talk, called it a charade, insisted that war lies beyond (or beneath) moral judgment. War is a world apart, where life itself is at stake, where human nature is reduced to its elemental forms, where self-interest and necessity prevail. Here men and women do what they must to save their selves and their communities, and morality and law... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2051696/posts#comment Sat, 26 Jul 2008 14:23:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036229/posts The US Navy-Marine Corps Court of Appeals has ruled that the CBS television news magazine 60 Minutes must turn over outtakes from its interview with Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich in which he revealed what happened at the so-called “Haditha Massacre” in Iraq more than three years ago. The three-judge appellate panel Friday directed Marine Corps military judge Lt. Col. Jeffrey G. Meeks to “conduct additional fact-finding” including an “in camera review” of the outtakes to determine whether Wuterich revealed any information the government needs to bolster its prosecution against the Marine infantryman. The ruling of the military judge... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2036229/posts#comment Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:40:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026391/posts A court martial on Wednesday acquitted a US Marine for his role in the deaths of 24 civilians in Haditha in Iraq in 2005, the sixth man to be exonerated in the affair, a military official said. Lieutenant Andrew Grayson, 27, was declared "not guilty on all charges" by a jury, said a spokesman for the Camp Pendleton military base in southern California where the hearing started on May 28. Grayson had been charged with making false statements and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps. He was also charged with obstruction of justice, but the military judge dismissed... Breitbart Dot Com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026391/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 12:45:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017320/posts The Marine Corps attorneys representing Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich in the so-called “Haditha Massacre” investigation are expected to step down without closure more than a year after their client was charged. Baring unseen events, they will be off the defense team by August 1 and likely earlier than that, according to civilian co-counsel, Mark Zaid. Meanwhile, Wuterich remains in limbo at Camp Pendleton while government prosecutors wrangle with 60 Minutes lawyers over video outtakes the government says will help prove the incident at Haditha was a crime. Wuterich's trial will take place sometime in the fall. Lieutenant Colonel Colby C.... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2017320/posts#comment Sat, 17 May 2008 13:04:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1997500/posts The mockudrama "Battle for Haditha" is going to be making its US premeire in May. As part of the publicity blitz for the fictionalized version of the incident at Haditha, Eliot Ruiz, who portrays Cpl. Ramirez (aka Staff Sgt Frank Wuterich) is making the rounds in his hometown of Philly. It's disgusting that a worthless piece of fiction is presented as a "docudrama" of the events on November 19, 2005. But what is worse is former Marines portraying those whose honor and service were forever tarnished in the Murtha-inspired witch-hunt. "...When I first heard about Nick's film I wasn't sure... Chickenhawk Express http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1997500/posts#comment Sun, 6 Apr 2008 11:19:17 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1978938/posts SAN DIEGO -- A military prosecutor is appealing a judge's decision to throw out a subpoena for unaired footage of a "60 Minutes" interview given by a Marine squad leader charged in the killings of 24 Iraqis. The appeal prompted the indefinite postponement of Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich's court-martial, which was scheduled to begin March 10, Wuterich's attorney, Mark Zaid, told The Associated Press on Friday. Marine prosecutor Capt. Nicholas Gannon has said in court documents the unaired CBS footage is vital to the case because it contains admissions by Wuterich of crimes in the attack in Haditha, Iraq,... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1978938/posts#comment Sat, 1 Mar 2008 22:07:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974948/posts CAMP PENDLETON -- A jury that includes several combat veterans will gather in a courtroom here one week from Monday to hear the first case against four Marines being prosecuted in the slaying of two dozen Iraqi civilians more than two years ago. The court-martial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will offer dramatically competing versions of what happened in the city of Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, and the outcome could set the tone for subsequent courts-martial of the three other Marines. The prosecutions are themselves controversial, drawing scorn from active-duty Marines and retired veterans, as well as global attention.... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974948/posts#comment Sat, 23 Feb 2008 11:33:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974481/posts CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (Map, News) - Military prosecutors say unaired footage of a CBS interview given by a Marine squad leader contains admissions of crimes in an attack that killed 24 Iraqi civilians. Staff Sgt. Frank D. Wuterich "apparently admits in an unaired segment that he did in fact order his men to 'shoot first and ask questions later,'" Capt. Nicholas Gannon said in response to a motion filed by CBS seeking to quash a subpoena seeking the footage. CBS is set to ask a military judge Friday to throw out the subpoena during a pretrial hearing for Wuterich, who... AP via San Francisco Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1974481/posts#comment Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:59:36 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970978/posts Defense suggesting that 'undue command influence' led to charges against Marine CAMP PENDLETON ---- What did the generals know and how did they influence the decision to charge Marines with crimes in the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005? That's the crux of ongoing attempts by attorneys for Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich to interview several current and former Marine Corps generals as they prepare for his court-martial, set to begin March 3. During a two-day motion hearing this week, Wuterich's attorneys told a military judge they are endeavoring to contact former Camp Pendleton Gen. James Mattis and... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970978/posts#comment Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:34:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970151/posts CAMP PENDLETON -- The Marine Corps has ordered one of two men charged with manslaughter in the 2005 deaths of 24 civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha to testify for the prosecution at the court-martial for a co-defendant. Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum has been ordered to appear at the trial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, which is scheduled to start in less than three weeks, and tell the jury his version of the events of Nov. 19, 2005. Tatum's attorney Jack Zimmerman said he was caught by surprise when served with the order. "We were sent a copy of... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1970151/posts#comment Thu, 14 Feb 2008 11:35:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969996/posts A key witness in the upcoming court-marshal of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich should not be allowed to testify in Wuterich’s behalf, the prosecutor claims in a motion filed in the Haditha Marines case. Wuterich, 27, is being tried for voluntary manslaughter in connection with the killings of 24 Iraqi citizens in the town of Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, shortly after a roadside bomb hit a Marine convoy, killing the driver of a Humvee and wounding two other Marines. Maj. Jeffrey Dinsmore, who was the battalion intelligence officer of Wuterich’s unit, has previously revealed that, based on his intelligence briefings,... NewsMax http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1969996/posts#comment Thu, 14 Feb 2008 01:11:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963604/posts CAMP PENDLETON – The Marine Corps has subpoenaed outtakes from a “60 Minutes” TV interview of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, who led a group of Camp Pendleton Marines in killing 24 Iraqi civilians about two years ago. The revelation was made Friday during a court hearing for Wuterich on the base. Prosecutors have described the Marines' actions Nov. 19, 2005, in the city of Haditha as a massacre. Wuterich and a fellow Marine are scheduled for trial on charges such as voluntary manslaughter, while two officers will be tried for allegedly trying to cover up the killings. Camp Pendleton officials... SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1963604/posts#comment Sat, 2 Feb 2008 02:29:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951187/posts The court martial for SSgt Frank Wuterich, USMC, has been scheduled for March 3-14, Defend Our Marines has learned. The court martial for a second enlisted man, LCpl Stephen Tatum, is scheduled to commence March 28. The battalion commander, LtCol Jeffrey Chessani, will go on trial on April 28. A fourth court martial, for Lt Andrew Grayson, has not yet been scheduled. Before SSgt Wuterich's trial commences, there will be two sessions for arguments on motions on February 13-15, 2008, and then on February 20-22, 2008. Attorney Mark Zaid says, "We expect a very lively pre-trial environment as several very... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1951187/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jan 2008 02:42:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1950965/posts CAMP PENDLETON ---- The man at the center of the killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha two years ago stood up in a Camp Pendleton courtroom this morning and was formally arraigned on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and related offenses. Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich did not enter a plea during a 35-minute session, telling a judge in a calm and firm voice that he would do so at a later date. The Connecticut native also told the military judge, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meeks, that he would declare at a later date whether he wants... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1950965/posts#comment Wed, 9 Jan 2008 20:10:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946712/posts Charges against another U.S. Marine caught up in the political fallout from an ambush in Haditha, Iraq, in 2005 have been reduced, officials have confirmed. Authorities at Camp Pendleton, Calif., said in a statement that the remaining charges against Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, who was accused of leading the campaign that resulted in the deaths of two dozen Iraqis, are "voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault" and others. But Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central commander, "dismissed the charges of unpremeditated murder, soliciting another to commit an offense and false official statement," according to a Reuters report. Eight... worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946712/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jan 2008 13:54:39 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946583/posts The Marine Corps has now acknowledged that none of the Marines charged with criminal offenses for their actions at Haditha, Iraq committed murder. Lieutenant General Samuel Helland’s decision to dismiss charges of unpremeditated murder against Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich lay to rest specious allegations by Time Magazine reporter Tim McGirk and Congressman John Murtha that a My Lai-style massacre occurred in Haditha on November 19, 2005. A Marine Corps spokesman said Monday that Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich will face trial on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice for his role in... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946583/posts#comment Tue, 1 Jan 2008 02:47:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946421/posts SAN FRANCISCO, Dec 31 (Reuters) - Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, the accused leader in the 2005 killings of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha, will face voluntary manslaughter charges but not more serious murder charges, the U.S. Marines said on Monday. "The charges referred against SSgt Wuterich are voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice," Camp Pendleton, California, said in a statement. Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, the commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central, "dismissed the charges of unpremeditated murder, soliciting another to commit an offense and false official statement," the statement said. Eight Marines... Reuters http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1946421/posts#comment Mon, 31 Dec 2007 19:31:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945171/posts Photo above: SSgt Frank Wuterich and then-Cpl Hector Salinas in Iraq, 2005. Click to enlarge.Marine Corps Sergeant Hector A. Salinas (erroneously identified as a murder suspect by the media for his role at Haditha, Iraq but never charged) has been granted testimonial immunity by the general overseeing the investigation of the so-called “massacre” of 24 Iraqi citizens killed that day. On November 19, 2005 Salinas, then 21, was a grenadier in a squad of Marine infantrymen from Kilo Company, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines that was ambushed by an Al Qaeda financed and led attack force at Haditha. His four-vehicle convoy... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1945171/posts#comment Fri, 28 Dec 2007 15:15:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928125/posts Lawyers for Rep. John P. Murtha will appeal a recent ruling advancing a defamation lawsuit brought against the Pennsylvania Democrat by a U.S. Marine under investigation for killing Iraqi civilians. Justice Department lawyers representing Murtha on Nov. 16 filed notice that they planned to appeal a federal district court judge’s Sept. 28 ruling allowing the lawsuit to proceed and ordering Murtha to give sworn testimony in the case. Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich sued Murtha in August 2006, accusing the 17-term congressman of defaming him during a news conference last year on the Nov. 19, 2005 killings of Iraqi civilians... CQ.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1928125/posts#comment Tue, 20 Nov 2007 00:28:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1908707/posts Note: This is an excerpt, in text form, for convenience. To see the entire report (including its footnotes), go here for a pdf. ________________________________________________________Summary of factsOn 19 November 2005, in Haditha, Iraq, Staff Sergeant Wuterich (SSgt) was the driver of the third vehicle of a four vehicle convoy. As the convoy traveled down route Chestnut returning from a logistics mission, an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded under the fourth vehicle in the convoy. Prior to the explosion LCpl Sharratt waved to a driver of an oncoming white sedan to pull over as the convoy approached. Directing oncoming traffic to pull... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1908707/posts#comment Tue, 9 Oct 2007 16:05:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906472/posts Are Members of Congress Accountable for Anything? By Clarice Feldman Are Congressmen above the law? The case of Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich against Congressman John Murtha (D-PA) tests this basic question. Of course there are other reasons to ask the same question. In a year when Congressional committees see no limits to what they will subpoena from the executive branch or about what they will interrogate its officers and employees, they rushed to court to keep the Department of Justice from subpoenaing the records of a Congressman caught with tens of thousands of dollars in his freezer. [snip] It is... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906472/posts#comment Thu, 4 Oct 2007 14:35:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906350/posts Official recommends Wuterich should be tried for negligent homicide in deaths of two women, five children CAMP PENDLETON -- A Marine Corps official has recommended that murder charges be dismissed against a Camp Pendleton squad leader accused in the deaths of 17 civilians killed in the Iraqi city of Haditha two years ago. The official, Lt. Col. Paul Ware, said in a recommendation obtained by the North County Times that rather than face murder charges, squad leader Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich should be tried for the lesser offense of negligent homicide in the deaths of five children and two women.... North County Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1906350/posts#comment Thu, 4 Oct 2007 10:22:21 GMT