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08-02-2006, 03:13 PM
Marine accused in Haditha case to sue Murtha
Lawyers say congressman made false, defamatory statements to the press
Reuters
Updated: 12:41 a.m. ET Aug 2, 2006
WASHINGTON - A U.S. Marine suspected in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will sue Rep. John Murtha for libel after the war critic made public comments about the case and accused the serviceman of murder, attorneys said Wednesday.
Lawyers representing Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26, said Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, made false, misleading and defamatory statements.
The case, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, says Murtha’s statements in the press about the case have pressured the Pentagon to pursue charges against Wuterich and other Marines, and to use them as ”scapegoats” to prove that allegations of atrocities committed against Iraqis will be pursued, “no matter how baseless.”
“The false, misleading and defamatory statements disseminated by Mr. Murtha portray ... Wuterich as a cold-blooded killer, untrained and falling victim to stress, as well as being involved in a cover-up of the tragic events of November 19, 2005,” the Marine’s lawyers say in the court filing.
“Mr. Murtha has intentionally disseminated with malice his hearsay version of the events of November 19, 2005 with knowledge of the false and libelous nature of the statements contained therein and/or with gross negligence or reckless disregard for the truth,” the suit states.
A spokeswoman for Murtha declined to comment, but said the congressman would release a statement later Wednesday.
Wuterich is suing for damages of at least $75,000, a public apology and an injunction prohibiting publication of allegations against the Marine.
U.S. Marines, including Wuterich, have been accused of killing unarmed Iraqis in Haditha last year. An investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service into the role of the Marines in the killings could lead to murder charges.
The Haditha case is just one of many in which U.S. servicemen are suspected of killing Iraqi civilians.
Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has commented extensively about Haditha. In May, he told ABC News there was ”no question” the U.S. military tried to cover up the Haditha killings, and that he would not “excuse murder.”
In the court filing, which Wuterich’s attorneys said would be filed Wednesday, many of Murtha’s comments in the press are recounted. According to the filing, for example, Murtha said on NBC, “Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”
Wuterich is represented by Washington-based lawyers Mark Zaid and Neal Puckett.
Lawyers say congressman made false, defamatory statements to the press
Reuters
Updated: 12:41 a.m. ET Aug 2, 2006
WASHINGTON - A U.S. Marine suspected in the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, will sue Rep. John Murtha for libel after the war critic made public comments about the case and accused the serviceman of murder, attorneys said Wednesday.
Lawyers representing Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 26, said Murtha, a Pennsylvania Democrat, made false, misleading and defamatory statements.
The case, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, says Murtha’s statements in the press about the case have pressured the Pentagon to pursue charges against Wuterich and other Marines, and to use them as ”scapegoats” to prove that allegations of atrocities committed against Iraqis will be pursued, “no matter how baseless.”
“The false, misleading and defamatory statements disseminated by Mr. Murtha portray ... Wuterich as a cold-blooded killer, untrained and falling victim to stress, as well as being involved in a cover-up of the tragic events of November 19, 2005,” the Marine’s lawyers say in the court filing.
“Mr. Murtha has intentionally disseminated with malice his hearsay version of the events of November 19, 2005 with knowledge of the false and libelous nature of the statements contained therein and/or with gross negligence or reckless disregard for the truth,” the suit states.
A spokeswoman for Murtha declined to comment, but said the congressman would release a statement later Wednesday.
Wuterich is suing for damages of at least $75,000, a public apology and an injunction prohibiting publication of allegations against the Marine.
U.S. Marines, including Wuterich, have been accused of killing unarmed Iraqis in Haditha last year. An investigation by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service into the role of the Marines in the killings could lead to murder charges.
The Haditha case is just one of many in which U.S. servicemen are suspected of killing Iraqi civilians.
Murtha, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, has commented extensively about Haditha. In May, he told ABC News there was ”no question” the U.S. military tried to cover up the Haditha killings, and that he would not “excuse murder.”
In the court filing, which Wuterich’s attorneys said would be filed Wednesday, many of Murtha’s comments in the press are recounted. According to the filing, for example, Murtha said on NBC, “Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood.”
Wuterich is represented by Washington-based lawyers Mark Zaid and Neal Puckett.