Haditha may Cost Marine Retirement PayDecember 02, 2009
Associated Press
CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Camp Pendleton Marine officer whose criminal charges of failing to investigate the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians were dismissed must clear one final hurdle before retirement.
An administrative military panel will begin an inquiry Wednesday to determine if Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, of Rangely, Colo., should be demoted in retirement - something his attorney says could cost Chessani millions of dollars in lost pension, health and retirement benefits.
Chessani was originally charged with dereliction of duty for failing to investigate the 2005 killings of men, women and children by Marines in Haditha but a judge at Camp Pendleton dismissed the charges because of improper contact between a general overseeing the case and an investigator. The Marines announced in April they would not pursue further criminal charges.
At the hearing Wednesday, attorneys will argue over what evidence can be submitted, including photos of the Iraqi dead, before proceeding to opening statements, said Brian Rooney, Chessani's civilian defense attorney.
The three-member panel will then retire to review a number of documents before taking witness testimony beginning Dec. 7.
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