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Military

Camp Pendleton Marine's Murder Conviction In Hamdaniya Case Overturned

Lawrence Hutchins III
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Lawrence Hutchins III

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces has overturned the murder conviction of ex-Camp Pendleton Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III.

Hutchins led an eight-man squad that kidnapped and killed unarmed Iraqi civilian Hashim Ibrahim Awad in Hamdaniya in 2006.

The Associated Press reports:

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The judges agreed with Hutchins, who claimed his constitutional rights were violated when he was held in solitary confinement without access to a lawyer for seven days during his interrogation.

A military court in 2007 convicted Hutchins of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, making a false official statement, and larceny, according to The Jurist.

Hutchins' lawyer, Babu Kaza, told the A.P. he anticipates his client will be released from the brig at MCAS Miramar in a matter of days.

But the story may not be over yet. U-T San Diego reports the Hutchins case could be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court for review. The military convening authority could also order a retrial for Hutchins.