U.S. Marine Corps squad leader accused of kidnapping and killing an Iraqi civilian was in military court today for an Article 32 hearing. Military officials have not yet decided whether they’ll file charges in the case against Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins the third. He led the group accused of killing 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad near Hamdania in April. Six Marines and a Navy corpsman are accused in the slaying.
An Article 32 hearing is equivalent to a preliminary or grand jury hearing in civilian court, where evidence is presented to determine whether there is probable cause for a trial.
