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June 6th,
2008 - Marine Charged with Voluntary Manslaughter in Iraqi Deaths News article by the Associated
Press |
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Marine Charged
with Voluntary Manslaughter in Iraqi Deaths By Chelsea J. Carter Associated Press June 6, 2008 San Diego - A Marine sniper
has been charged with two counts of voluntary manslaughter in the shooting
deaths of two civilians in Iraq. Sgt. John Winnick II also
has been charged with aggravated assault against two other civilians and
failing to adhere to the military's rules of engagement. Winnick's attorney, Gary
Myers, said a hearing will be held to determine whether there is sufficient
evidence to court-martial the Marine. The charges allege Winnick
killed the civilians on June 17, 2007, during combat operations near Lake
Tharthar in Iraq's western Anbar province. The charges also allege he fired
at two others without first determining whether any of the civilians posed a threat,
Myers said. The lake was once Saddam
Hussein's favorite fishing spot. The military believed the fairly isolated
area was being used for training and recuperation by insurgents. Marines spokesman Mike
Alvarez confirmed the charges. Winnick is a member of the
3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Division, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at
Camp Pendleton, Alvarez said. Winnick was working with the base's 13th Marine
Expeditionary Unit at the time of the shootings. The charges carry a maximum
40-year sentence and a dishonorable discharge. The case against Winnick,
whose hometown and age were not immediately released, comes on the heels of
other cases in which Camp Pendleton Marines were charged with wrongdoing in
Iraq, including the shooting deaths of 24 Iraqis in Haditha and the fatal
shooting of a civilian in Hamdania. Copyright © 2008 The
Associated Press. External link: http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jTk2vhLgyi7D1H2ScDEwGvQ27oXgD914QRP80 Marine charged
in civilian killings in Iraq By Steve Liewer San Diego Union-Tribune June 6, 2008 Camp Pendleton – The
government has charged a Camp Pendleton Marine sniper for allegedly killing
two civilians and shooting at two others last year in western Iraq. Sgt. John Winnick II was
charged May 19 with two counts of voluntary manslaughter, one count of
aggravated assault and one count of failure to obey order or regulations,
Camp Pendleton spokesman Mike Alvarez said Friday. Winnick is accused of
shooting the Iraqis June 17, 2007, without assessing whether they posed a
threat. The shootings occured during combat operations near Lake Tharthar in
Iraq's western Anbar province. The lake was once Saddam
Hussein's favorite fishing spot. The military believed the fairly isolated
area was being used for training and recuperation by insurgents. If convicted, Winnick could
be imprisoned for 40 years and receive a dishonorable discharge. He is
serving at Camp Pendleton and has not been jailed. Winnick deployed to Iraq
with the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. He was assigned to Combat
Outpost Golden, described last year in The Atlantic magazine by Marine
historian Bing West as “a bleak, treeless earth redoubt with a half-dozen
wooden huts and a line of tents.” The area is northeast of the Marine Corps'
logistical hub at Al Asad Air Base. Winnick's civilian attorney,
Gary Myers, said a hearing will be held to help determine whether there is
enough evidence to court-martial the Marine. The Associated Press
contributed to this report. External link: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/military/20080606-2018-bn6marine.html |