A Marine General has ordered a Camp Pendleton Marine to face Court Martial f or his role in the killing of Iraqi civilian detainees during the invasion of Fallujah. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.
Sergeant Ryan Weemer is charged with one count of murder and 6 counts of dereliction of duty, for failing to follow the rules of engagement that govern the treatment of detainees.
Weemer originally revealed the details of the incident during a job interview with the Secret Service two years ago. He and another Marine Sergeant, Jermaine Nelson, allegedly shot two Iraqi civilians in their custody, on the orders of their squad leader, Jose Nazario.
Nazario, who allegedly shot two other Iraqi detainees, is charged with voluntary manslaughter in Federal Court because he is no longer a Marine.
Weemer and Nelson were jailed in June for refusing to testify against their squad leader.
Their testimony is the main evidence to support the case.
A tape of Weemer’s interview with the Secret Service convinced Lt.General Samuel Helland there is enough evidence to order Weemer to court martial.
Alison St John, KPBS news .