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Marines to be Charged in Haditha Case

Several marines involved in a fatal incident in Haditha, Iraq last year expect to be criminally charged on Thursday at Camp Pendleton. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

Marines to be Charged in Haditha Case

Several marines involved in a fatal incident in Haditha, Iraq last year expect to be criminally charged on Thursday at Camp Pendleton. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

In the Haditha incident, a squad of marines allegedly killed 24 Iraqi men, women and children, after their convoy of humvees was hit by a road side bomb, killing a young marine. 

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Mark Zaid is an attorney for the squad leader, Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich. Zaid says the Haditha incident should not be confused with the Hamdania case, in which marines were charged with murdering an Iraqi man and covering up the deed.  

Zaid: Haditha was a military operation, initiated as a result of an attack on a convoy in which the marines followed rules of engagement on the battle field and unfortunately as a result tragedy happened and innocent civilians were killed as a result collateral casualties.  

Iraqi witnesses called the incident a massacre. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has been investigating. No marines are in custody, but between five and eight marines are expected to be charged in the case. Alison St John, KPBS news.