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Marine Caught Between Crime, Punishment

Marine caught between crime, punishment

It could have been an awkward, even brutal, first day back at work. But Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III, the 26-year-old squad leader convicted of masterminding the killing of an unarmed man in Hamdaniya, Iraq, in 2006, said he was welcomed back Tuesday with handshakes. Ref. Source 1

Punishment Crime Caught Marine

I do not know the whole story of what went on that night and I am sure the world will never really know either. I think that the ones who were there know and they are the ones who will have to answer to a much higher power than we down here can ever give. I know in combat you try to do what is going to keep you alive. Yeah sometimes you make mistakes and do something wrong. I think those involved have paid for that mistake. War is never pretty.

Marine Caught Between Crime, Punishment History & Civil Business Politics

Marine ordered freed in Iraq war crime case:

Hutchins led an eight-man squad accused of kidnapping an Iraqi man from his home in April 2006, marching him to a ditch and shooting him to death in the village of Hamdania. Hutchins has said he thought the man - who turned out to be a retired policeman - was an insurgent leader. Ref. Source 6

Punishment Crime Caught Marine

Keep in mind that even squad leaders are following orders from the chain of command. I do not think this was a judgement call on his behalf, it most likely got pinned on him because he took responsibility. I have seen this happen before, but I could be wrong.

Punishment Crime Caught Marine

Marine to be retried for Iraq murder
Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins twice freed on appeal for Hamdaniyah killing

A Camp Pendleton Marine freed on appeal after serving six years for the murder of an unarmed man in Hamdaniyah, Iraq during the height of the war will be retried in a ... Ref. Source 7