SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Hutchins, shown here in the back right, was convicted of murder in 2007. He has now been released pending a new trial. (Reuters)
Marine Jailed for War Crimes Freed
WASHINGTON - A US marine convicted of war crimes in Iraq has been released from prison pending an appellate court's review of his case.
Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania in 2006.
Jun 16, 2010
WASHINGTON - A US marine convicted of war crimes in Iraq has been released from prison pending an appellate court's review of his case.
Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania in 2006.
Â
But
a military appeals court in Washington has ruled that Hutchings did not
receive a fair trial, because his lead defense attorney left the case
shortly before it went to trial.
The US navy is now appealing that ruling to a higher court; Hutchins
will remain free until a verdict is issued, which could take until next
year.
Â
"I'm
going to be the best Marine I can be today," Hutchins said after his
release. "Today is really a surreal experience. I think we had a good
judge. ... It's hard to describe exactly what I'm feeling. I'm happy."
Hutchins was convicted of leading his seven-man squad in a plot to
kidnap and kill the Iraqi man, whose name was not listed in the charges
against Hutchins. The squad placed an AK-47 assault rifle and shovel
near the man's body, to make him look like an insurgent planting a bomb.
The other members of Hutchins' squad received short jail sentences, all of them less than 18 months.
Ray Mabus, the secretary of the navy, told a US newspaper last year that he believed Hutchins was the leader of the plot, and that he should serve his full sentence.
Hutchins claims he was not with the squad at the time of the murder.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
WASHINGTON - A US marine convicted of war crimes in Iraq has been released from prison pending an appellate court's review of his case.
Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania in 2006.
Â
But
a military appeals court in Washington has ruled that Hutchings did not
receive a fair trial, because his lead defense attorney left the case
shortly before it went to trial.
The US navy is now appealing that ruling to a higher court; Hutchins
will remain free until a verdict is issued, which could take until next
year.
Â
"I'm
going to be the best Marine I can be today," Hutchins said after his
release. "Today is really a surreal experience. I think we had a good
judge. ... It's hard to describe exactly what I'm feeling. I'm happy."
Hutchins was convicted of leading his seven-man squad in a plot to
kidnap and kill the Iraqi man, whose name was not listed in the charges
against Hutchins. The squad placed an AK-47 assault rifle and shovel
near the man's body, to make him look like an insurgent planting a bomb.
The other members of Hutchins' squad received short jail sentences, all of them less than 18 months.
Ray Mabus, the secretary of the navy, told a US newspaper last year that he believed Hutchins was the leader of the plot, and that he should serve his full sentence.
Hutchins claims he was not with the squad at the time of the murder.
WASHINGTON - A US marine convicted of war crimes in Iraq has been released from prison pending an appellate court's review of his case.
Sergeant Lawrence Hutchins was sentenced to 11 years in prison for killing an Iraqi civilian in the town of Hamdania in 2006.
Â
But
a military appeals court in Washington has ruled that Hutchings did not
receive a fair trial, because his lead defense attorney left the case
shortly before it went to trial.
The US navy is now appealing that ruling to a higher court; Hutchins
will remain free until a verdict is issued, which could take until next
year.
Â
"I'm
going to be the best Marine I can be today," Hutchins said after his
release. "Today is really a surreal experience. I think we had a good
judge. ... It's hard to describe exactly what I'm feeling. I'm happy."
Hutchins was convicted of leading his seven-man squad in a plot to
kidnap and kill the Iraqi man, whose name was not listed in the charges
against Hutchins. The squad placed an AK-47 assault rifle and shovel
near the man's body, to make him look like an insurgent planting a bomb.
The other members of Hutchins' squad received short jail sentences, all of them less than 18 months.
Ray Mabus, the secretary of the navy, told a US newspaper last year that he believed Hutchins was the leader of the plot, and that he should serve his full sentence.
Hutchins claims he was not with the squad at the time of the murder.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.