by Nathaniel R. Helms |
Tuesday, January 18, 2012 | Day Nine
Camp Pendleton, Calif. – The General Court Martial of SSgt Frank
D. Wuterich was recessed unexpectedly without explanation in the
middle of the cross-examination of squad member Humberto Mendoza.
Mendoza was expected to testify he heard Wuterich
order his ad hoc fire team to mount an unlawful assault on two houses
that held civilians.
During his examination by government prosecutor
Lt Col Sean Sullivan, however, Mendoza testified he never heard
Wuterich give any orders to assault the houses where 14 civilians were
killed.
Wuterich is charged with nine counts of Voluntary
Manslaughter and related offenses for his alleged misconduct at
Haditha, Iraq on Nov. 19, 2005.
Military Judge Lt Col David Jones offered no
explanation for the unexpected recess. The trial is scheduled to
resume at 0800 Pacific time Thursday.
__________________________________________
Nathaniel R. Helms
Defend Our Marines
18 January 2012
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).
