Skip navigation

Marine won't face war-crime charges again

Military appeals court makes decision in connection with 24 Iraqi deaths

Video: Military news
Authorities knew about Fort Hood suspect
  Nov. 10: FBI officials admitted they knew months ago that Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan was repeatedly e-mailing a radical Muslim cleric overseas. A Morning Meeting panel discusses how authorities missed what appeared to be multiple red flags in the Fort Hood massacre.

Text alerts on msnbc.com

Breaking news alerts (about 1 per day)
Click here to sign up or text NEWS to MSNBC (67622).

Find more alerts at alerts.msnbc.com

updated 3:23 p.m. ET April 29, 2009

SAN DIEGO - A military appeals court has refused to reinstate war-crime charges against a Marine in connection with the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians.

The nine-member appellate court rejected the Marine Corps' appeal Tuesday night, just as a three-member panel did in March.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani of Rangely, Colo., was charged with dereliction of duty for failing to investigate the 2005 killings of men, women and children by Marines in Haditha, Iraq.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

A judge at Camp Pendleton in California dismissed the charges last year, saying the case was tainted by improper contact between a general overseeing the case and an investigator.

Charges also have been dismissed against five other Marines. Another was acquitted and one has a pending court-martial.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored LinksGet listed here
Online College Courses
Boost your career with an online Degree. Pick from Leading Colleges!
www.EarnMyDegree.com

Sponsored links

Resource guide