IRAQ: Marine convicted of murder sent to Leavenworth prison

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Pvt. Lawrence Hutchins, convicted as the ringleader in the execution of an unarmed Iraqi by a squad of Marines, has been transferred from the brig at Camp Pendleton to the military’s only maximum-security prison, at Ft. Leavenworth, Kan.

Hutchins, 24, of Plymouth, Mass., is serving an 11-year sentence for conspiracy and unpremeditated murder for the April 2006 killing in Hamandiya, west of Baghdad.

A military jury found that Hutchins, who was then a squad leader and sergeant, organized and led the unofficial mission to kill an Iraqi as a warning to insurgents to stop attacking Marine convoys.

Six other Marines and a Navy corpsman were convicted in the case; all served less than two years and are now free. One of the Marines is back in Iraq.

Hutchins’ transfer was first reported on a MySpace page devoted to his defense, including pictures, videos, poetry, country-Western music and a plea for donations to help pay legal bills. The move was later confirmed by the North (San Diego) County Times.

The military jury that convicted Hutchins sentenced him to 15 years and a dishonorable discharge. Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, commanding general of Marine Forces Central Command, turned down pleas from Hutchins’ family to issue a pardon but did reduce the sentence to 11 years.

The case is on appeal. Even if the appeal fails, Hutchins will probably only serve a portion of the 11 years, if the military follows the pattern set during the Vietnam War for service personnel convicted of similar offenses.

— Tony Perry in San Diego