Marine 'ordered to kill women and children'

By Rob Woollard at Camp Pendleton
News.com.au
Sep. 01, 2007

A US Marine was ordered to execute a room full of terrified Iraqi women and children during an alleged massacre in Haditha that left 24 people dead, a military court was told today.

The testimony came in the opening of a preliminary hearing for Marine Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings, the most serious war crimes allegations faced by US troops in Iraq.

Sgt Wuterich, spoke confidently to confirm his name as the hearing to decide if he faces a court martial began at the Marines' Camp Pendleton base in southern California.

The 27-year-old listened intently as Lance Corporal Humberto Mendoza recounted how Marines had responded after a roadside bomb attack on their convoy in Haditha on November 19, 2005 left one comrade dead.

Lance-Cpl Mendoza said Marines under Sgt Wuterich's command began clearing nearby houses suspected of containing insurgents responsible for the bombing.

At one house Sgt Wuterich gave an order to shoot on sight as Marines waited for a response after knocking on the door, said Lance-Cpl Mendoza.

"He said 'Just wait till they open the door, then shoot'.".

Lance-Cpl Mendoza then said he himself shot and killed an adult male who appeared in a doorway.

During a subsequent search of the house he received an order from another Marine, Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum, to shoot seven women and children he had found in a rear bedroom.

"When I opened the door there was just women and kids, two adults were lying down on the bed and there were three children on the bed ... two more were behind the bed,'' Lance-Cpl Mendoza said.

"I looked at them for a few seconds. Just enough to know they were not presenting a threat ... they looked scared.''

After leaving the room Lance Cpl Mendoza told Lance-Cpl Tatum what he had found.

"I told him there were women and kids inside there. He said 'Well, shoot them,''' Lance-Cpl Mendoza told prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Sean Sullivan.

"And what did you say to him?'' Lt-Col Sullivan asked.

"I said 'But they're just women and children.' He didn't say nothing.''

Lance-Cpl Mendoza said he returned to a position at the front of the house and heard a door open behind him followed by a loud noise. Returning later that afternoon to retrieve bodies, Lance-Cpl Mendoza said he found a room full of corpses.

Prosecutors allege Marines went on a killing spree in Haditha in retaliation for the death of their colleague in the bomb attack.

Defence lawyers will argue that sgt Wuterich followed established combat zone rules of engagement.

A total of eight Marines were initially charged in connection with the Haditha deaths.

Four were charged with murder while four senior officers were accused of failing to properly investigate the killings.

Of the four Marines charged with murder, two have since had charges withdrawn, while allegations against Lance-Cpl Tatum are also expected to be dismissed.

Sgt Wuterich also faces charges of making a false statement and asking another Marine to do the same. He faces a life sentence and dishonorable discharge if court-martialled.













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