Lt. General Mattis Reduces the Charges for Three Marines Implicated in Iraq Civilian Killings

After self-proclaimed deep investigations, Lieutenant General James Mattis announced this past week the dismissal of all or most of the charges against two marines implicated in two of the most notorious killings of Iraqi civilians.  On August 9th, according to an online publication by the Union Tribune, all charges were dropped against Captain Randy Stone in the Haditha murder case as well as against Lance Corporal Justin Sharratt.  Iraq Updates online expanded on the charges saying that Sharratt was originally charged with three counts of murder and Stone was accused of failing to properly investigate the incident.  Iraqi Updates also called the Haditha incident "the most serious case of alleged war crimes involving U.S. forces in Iraq.  Mattis released a statement detailing what he considered in his investigation and why he came to the conclusion to drop the charges.  Mattis was quoted as stating, "Captain Stone and his fellow Marines served in the most ethically challenging combat environment in the world....I have no doubt that [Stone] now understands the absolute necessity for objective inquiry into the combat actions of our Marines in such an environment, especially when innocent lives are lost."  Mattis assured the public that Stone's actions never reached a criminal level and Stone has undoubtedly learned from his mistakes.  In Sharratt's case Mattis concluded, Sharratt has served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq where our Nation is fighting a shadowy enemy who hides among the innocent people, does not comply with any aspect of the law of war, and routinely targets and intentionally draws fire toward civilians."  It has been speculated, and described in past Impunity Watch articles, that the Haditha incident began after one marine was killed by a car bomb.  In the end apparently fifteen Iraqi civilians, including women and children, were supposedly killed by U.S. marines on a rampage.  In total eight marines were charged in the Haditha incident, says Iraq Update, four were accused of murder and four were charged with failing to properly investigate the deaths.

Ironically, Mattis also made a public statement concerning another soldier implicated in another civilian murder case that took place in Hamdaniya, Iraq.  Similarly, a total of eight soldiers were initially charged with various crimes for their connections to the shooting in this case and so far only one soldier is in prison.  The eight men all allegedly played a part in the killing of 52 year old Awad, an Iraqi civilian after they failed to locate the insurgent the patrol group had initially been looking for.  Awad was supposedly shot in his home and then taken to a ditch where he was fatally shot ten times in the head.  The marines then tried to cover up the murder as a rightful killing of an insurgent.  On August 12, BBC online reported that Lt. Gen. James Mattis, in exchange for a plea bargain, dropped the murder charges against 22 year old marine, Robert Pennington and dishonorably discharged him in exchange for his testimony against three of the other soldiers still awaiting trial.  Pennington and three other marines have accepted similar plea bargains in exchange for their testimony of the night's events. The BBC article stated that Pennington was the radio operator and, although he did no shoot Mr. Awad, he helped to force him into the hole and held a hand over his mouth.  In the end Mattis stated that after considering Pennington's inexperience in the Marines, age, rank, and the nature of the combat he faced in Iraq the initial sentence of fourteen years should be dismissed in order to "ensure fair treatment."  Thus far, only Lawrence Hutchins (see Impunity Watch, August archives) has been convicted of murder and is facing fifteen years in prison.

To view these sources please see:

“Marine Freed in Iraq Killing case” BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6943511.stm August 12, 2007 

“Statements from Lt. James Mattis” The Union Tribune: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20070809-1224-haditha_statements.html , August 9, 2007

Rob Woollard, Iraq Updates: http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/20532 August 11, 2006