Conflict of interest noted in Hadithah case

[unhappycamper]

Conflict of interest noted in Hadithah case
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday May 21, 2008 18:13:54 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Lawyers for a Marine officer charged with failing to investigate a squad’s killings of 24 Iraqis in Hadithah say a military judge has found evidence of undue command influence over the case.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani contends that a military lawyer who investigated the November 2005 killings had a conflict of interest when he later advised generals overseeing the Hadithah trials.

Defense attorney Brian Rooney said Wednesday that the judge stated in a preliminary ruling Tuesday that the military adviser created both the fact and the appearance of a conflict.

Rooney says he plans to ask the judge to dismiss the case at a hearing June 2 at Camp Pendleton.

Chessani is from Rangely, Colo.


Article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/05/ap_hadithah_052108/