Evidence against Hadithah lt. under review

Evidence against Hadithah lt. under review
The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Nov 19, 2007 20:38:35 EST

CAMP PENDLETON, California — An investigating officer has begun reviewing evidence against a Marine lieutenant accused of failing to investigate the 2005 deaths of 24 men, women and children in the Iraqi town of Hadithah.

The deaths have led to the biggest prosecution of U.S. troops in the Iraq war.

1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, 26, is charged with dereliction of duty, making a false official statement and obstructing justice for allegedly failing to investigate the killings.

On Nov. 19, 2005, the Marine squad’s convoy was struck by a roadside bomb, killing one Marine and wounding another. In the aftermath, squad members killed 24 Iraqis, authorities have said.

Following a preliminary hearing which ended Saturday, the investigating officer will now weigh evidence against Grayson, then make a recommendation about whether he should go to a court-martial, said Marine spokesman Lt. Col. Sean Gibson.

The final decision will be made by a general.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2007/11/ap_hadithah_071119/