Marines Take Legal Steps To Get Outtakes Of TV Interview

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
San Diego Union-Tribune
February 2, 2008 Its subject led unit in Haditha killings
By Rick Rogers, Staff Writer
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 yesterday during a court hearing for Wuterich on the base.
Prosecutors have described the Marines' actions on 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 said CBS News, which produces “60 Minutes,” has refused to turn over footage taken for the segment about Wuterich. The standoff likely will lead to a courtroom clash at Camp Pendleton in coming weeks.
CBS officials declined to comment yesterday.
Wuterich recounted details of the Haditha incident during the broadcast, which aired March 18, 2007. He also maintained his innocence, saying he regretted the deaths of civilians but insisting that they were unavoidable as part of combat between Marines and insurgents in the area.
Wuterich, 27, is charged with voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice. If convicted, he could be sentenced to nearly 161 years in the brig.
The Haditha incident began after a roadside bomb struck a convoy led by Wuterich. The blast killed one of his men and wounded two others.
In the next few hours, Wuterich and about a half-dozen other Marines used grenades and assault rifles to kill the civilians – five men who were around the bomb site and 19 men, women and children in some nearby homes.
During yesterday's hearing, military judge Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meeks granted the prosecution's request to travel to Haditha and interview three children who were in two of the houses that Marines entered. The prosecutors plan to videotape their testimony.
The Haditha trip also is expected to include an inspection of the alleged crime scenes and depositions of certain Iraqi witnesses at a base run by the Marines.
 
Back
Top