Lawyers appeal dismissal of Hadithah charges

[unhappycamper]

Lawyers appeal dismissal of Hadithah charges
By Chelsea J. Carter - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Jul 30, 2008 6:41:57 EDT

SAN DIEGO — Prosecutors appealed the dismissal of charges against a Marine officer accused of not investigating the killings of 24 Iraqis, a defense attorney said Tuesday.

Military prosecutors filed the appeal Monday seeking to reinstate charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, said civilian defense attorney Brian Rooney.

A Marine Corps spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A military judge last month dismissed charges against Chessani after finding that a four-star general overseeing the case was improperly influenced by an investigator probing the Nov. 19, 2005, killings in Haditha, Iraq.

Chessani, of Rangely, Colo., was the highest-ranking officer to face a combat-related court-martial since the Vietnam War.


Rest of article at: http://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_hadithah_appeal_072908/