KANSAN.COM / THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN / WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30, 2010 / NEWS
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MILITARY
U.S. Marine accused of war crimes back on duty
BY JULIE WATSON Associated Press
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III put on his uniform and reported for duty Tuesday despite lingering accusations that he killed an unarmed
Iraqi man in what became a major war crime case.
Hutchins, 26,
of Plymouth,
Mass., spent
the past fours
years in a military prison after being convicted of murdering a
52-year-old Iraqi
man in the village of Hamdania in 2006.
"I'm afraid I'm not going to get that fair treatment because of the political ramifications that I'm being used for."
He was released June 14 after a military appeals court ruled he had an unfair trial in 2007 and threw out his conviction.
The case is now in the hands of a higher court that can affirm or reverse the April ruling.
The back window of a truck in the driveway read: "Free Larry."
"I'm afraid I'm not going to get that fair treatment because of the political ramifications that I'm being used for," said Hutchins, who donned his crispy ironed Marine uniform at a friend's home in nearby Oceanside before heading to the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, north of San Diego.
Hutchins told The Associated Press he fears the Navy will be watching his every move to see if it can get him back in jail since his conviction was a major victory in the government effort to go after U.S. troops who kill unarmed Iraqis.
Hutchins will handle the logistics of training exercises at the base while his case is being appealed by the Navy.
Hutchins is under no restrictions, and the Marine Corps has said he will be treated like any other Marine but will not be deployed because of the legal situation.
Navy prosecutors say Hutchins led a squad that dragged Hashim Ibrahim Awad from his home, shot him in a ditch, then planted a shovel and AK-47 to make it appear he was
an insurgent.
LAWRENCE HUTCHINS III Marine sergeant
- Hutchins said he feels Navy Secretary Ray Mabus is out to get him because Mabus told the Marine Corps Times last year that he believes Hutchins was the ringleader in a murder plot and attempted cover-up, and that Hutchins should
complete the full prison sentence.
pool," Hutchins said.
"I don't think any Marine should be used as a political tool, but I'm walking on a razor's edge as it is with the Navy secretary saying what he has said and tainting the jury
Mabus' office said he is precluded from commenting since the case is under appeal. Prosecutors said they are preparing an appellate brief that will detail their case.
Hutchins has maintained that he was not present at the killing, and that his squad radioed him to tell him the man was an insurgent leader. Hutchins said the death haunts him, but he declined to discuss specifics on the matter.
Hutchins was convicted of murder and sentenced to 14 years, a term later reduced to 11 years. The six other Marines and Navy corpsman in his squad served less than 18 months.
the advice of his lawyer.
Hutchins said he harbors no ill feelings toward his squad mates. He has been ordered not to talk to them while the case is ongoing, but he hopes to someday have a beer and "talk war stories" with them.
After their release, several of the squad members worked for the Headquarters Battalion, where Hutchins has been assigned. He said they left a good record.
In the 10 days since his release, Hutchins has visited with his parents and six-year-old daughter after they flew from Massachusetts.
"If I could take this all back and do over, I definitely would not have condoned what happened." Hutchins said. "Marines pay for it. Families pay for it. I would never put anybody through this. It's one of those things I have to live with."
He has been sleeping on base but plans to move into his friend's home. He believes his conviction will not be reinstated.
"I had to go out and buy a wallet, get my Social Security card.
"If I could take this all back and do over, I definitely would not have condoned what happened."
LAWRENCE HUTCHINS III Marine sergeant
my birth certificate, military ID, bank card — I'm literally starting my life over from nothing," he said.
His fellow Marines have welcomed him and haven't asked questions, he said.
never happened. I'm back in the Marine Corps," Hutchins said, adding that "surreal is an understatement" to describe how he feels.
"This is absolutely as if it
A ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces will likely come sometime next year.
ENVIRONMENT
Crane in Alaska collapses, spilling gasoline into river
ASSOCIATED PRESS
FAIRBANKS, Alaska — Diesel fuel has spilled into the Chena River after a huge crane being used on a bridge construction project in downtown Fairbanks crashed into the waterway.
Meadow Bailey says state environmental regulators are at the
A spokeswoman with the state Department of Transportation says the spill Tuesday is estimated at less than 50 gallons.
scene and work is under way to contain the slick with absorbent booms and pads.
A protective fabric curtain was in place along the project area, lining the river banks and hanging into the water.
Bailey says more booms have been placed downriver as well.
No injuries were reported in the accident, although the crane operator was taken to Fairbanks Memorial Hospital as a precaution.
CRIME
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Court rejects new trial for KC area homicides
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — A man convicted of murdering a Kansas City couple and then attempting to escape from jail will not get a new trial.
A Missouri appeals court ruled last October that Kellen McKinney's convictions should be overturned because a judge should have split the escape charge from the murder charges.
But the Missouri Supreme Court
on Tuesday said the judge was correct in trying the charges together
McKinney, of Kansas City, Kan., was sentenced to consecutive terms of life imprisonment for he October 2004 stabbing deaths of John and Mildred Caylor in Raytown. They were killed at the Bible and music store they owned.
McKinney also was sentenced to four years in prison for an attempted escape while in custody on the murder charges.
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