Court-Martial Trial Practice Blog
L.A. Now: Marines will not seek to reinstate charges against top officer in Haditha killings
August 28, 2009 | 1:11 pm
The Marine Corps has decided not to seek to reinstate criminal charges against a former battalion commander at Camp Pendleton for a 2005 incident in which his troops killed 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq.
Instead, the Marine Corps will convene a Board of Inquiry to hear testimony and recommend whether Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani should be demoted to major for purposes of retirement.
Even if such a recommendation is made and then accepted by the Secretary of the Navy, Chessani’s retirement pay would still be based on being a lieutenant colonel.
Photo: Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani Credit: Associated Press
Here’s a piece from the North County Times.