Marines granted immunity over Haditha killings

Military prosecutors have granted immunity to at least seven US Marines who may be called to testify at the trial of fellow troops accused over the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians in Haditha.

The orders were obtained by The Associated Press from someone involved in the case who declined to be identified because the documents were not public.

The Marines who were granted immunity include an officer who told troops to raid a house and a sergeant who took photographs of the dead, but later deleted them from his camera.

The immunity orders ensure that any testimony the Marines volunteer cannot be used against them, making it highly unlikely charges will be brought against the men.

The documents also suggest the troops’ eyewitness accounts will feature prominently in military court hearings for the seven other Marines charged over the deadliest case to arise from the Iraq war.

The Marine squad had suffered a fatality on November 19 2005, when its convoy was rocked by a roadside bomb blast. In the aftermath of the explosion, the troops are accused of killing 24 Iraqis, including women and children, in Haditha.

Four enlisted Marines were charged with unpremeditated murder and four officers were charged with failing to adequately report the deaths. The troops have maintained their innocence, saying they believed they were under attack and followed proper procedures to defend themselves.

The Marine Corps said on Tuesday that it had dropped all charges against one man, Sgt Sanick Dela Cruz. Dela Cruz has also been given immunity to testify.

A legal expert said by giving so many people immunity, prosecutors were taking a “conservative” approach to the case.

“These are legitimate moves by the prosecutor, who is very cautious,” said Gary Solis, a former Marine Corps prosecutor and judge who teaches law of war at Georgetown University Law Centre.

Marine spokesman Lt Col Sean Gibson said last night: “As this is an ongoing investigation, the government will not confirm the identity of potential witnesses or discuss the conditions under which they may appear.”

Preliminary hearings for the seven Marines still facing charges are expected in the coming weeks.