The general court martial of SSgt Frank
Wuterich has been postponed due to the serious injury of a former NCIS
crime scene reconstructionist injured in a fall. SSgt Wuterich was
scheduled to go on trial September 13, 2010.
Neal Puckett, lead attorney for Wuterich, said military judge LtCol David
M. Jones, currently stationed in Okinawa, has postponed the trial until
November 1. This will give time for the witness to recover from surgery
for serious injuries to his hands and legs, Puckett said.
Prosecutor Major Nicholas Gannon informed Puckett late Thursday that
former NCIS Special Agent Mike Mahoney sustained the injuries when he fell
from a cliff while recreating with his son. Mahoney is the government’s
expert on what happened in the houses where civilians died at Haditha.
The so-called “Hutchins Motion” hearing seeking dismissal of the charges
will go on as scheduled, Puckett said.
“We have to remain pessimistic the trial will go forward and we have to
continue to prepare,” Puckett said.
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Nathaniel R. Helms
Defend Our Marines
4 September 2010
Note: Nat Helms is a Contributing Editor to Defend Our
Marines. He is a Vietnam veteran, former police officer, war
correspondent, and, most recently, author of
My Men Are My Heroes: The Brad Kasal Story (Meredith Books, 2007).
