Marines drop case against corporal charged in Haditha killings

Stephen Tatum

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Story Published: Mar 28, 2008 at 10:50 AM PDT

Story Updated: Mar 28, 2008 at 11:30 AM PDT

By Associated Press

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) - The Marine Corps is dropping all charges against a lance corporal who was accused of involuntary manslaughter in a squad's killing of 24 Iraqis in Haditha in 2005.

The Marines dropped the case against 26-year-old Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum on Friday as jury selection was about to begin for his court-martial at Camp Pendleton. He had also been charged with reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.

The case against Tatum stemmed from a squad's assault in response to a roadside bombing of a convoy that killed one Marine and wounded two others.

The government says a sergeant and another Marine shot five men at the scene and the squad leader ordered his men to clear homes with grenades and gunfire.

The government has been seeking Tatum's testimony against Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich of Meriden, Conn.

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