60 Minutes

Survivors of Haditha killings react to plea deal giving marine three months jail

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• published: 30 Jul 2015
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SHOTLIST 1. Wide of survivor of the Haditha killings, Awis Fahmi Hussein, opening gate into home 2. Various of Awis Fahmi Hussein showing to the camera scars from where he was hit by a bullet in the back 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Awis Fahmi Hussein, Attack survivor: 'I was expecting that the American judiciary would sentence this person to life in prison and that he would appear and confess in front of the whole world that he committed this crime, so that America could show itself as democratic and fair.'' 4. Wide of Haditha's main square 5. Close of sign reading (Arabic) "Welcome to Haditha Town" 6. Set up shot of eye witness of attack holding a local child whose father was killed 7. Various of bullet holes in wall 8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Muhand (no other name given), eyewitness and local resident: "It is a farce, 24 people were killed and he was sentenced to three months in prison only.'' 9. Wide exterior of provincial council building 10. Close of Haditha billboard 11. Various of Khalid Salman Rasif, relative of victims and Member of the Provincial Council in Haditha 12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khalid Salman Rasif, Head of the Provincial Council in Haditha "We wonder about such a sentence issued against the defendant. We called upon US to be fair in passing sentences. Regrettably, we are disappointed about the issuance of such sentences. I will contact the lawyer for the victims' families in America to explain to me the details.'' 13. Wide of car driving down Haditha street STORYLINE Survivors of what's been described as one of the Iraq War's worst attacks on civilians by US troops reacted with anger and shock on Tuesday, over the news that one of the men deemed responsible has pleaded guilty in a deal that will carry no more than three months confinement Haditha resident Awis Fahmi Hussein still carries the scars of the 2005 raid that killed 24 of his neighbours. He was shot in the back as he ran out of his home to investigate the sounds of gunfire and screaming. His family claim they had to wait six hours to take him to a hospital because of a US enforced curfew. He says, like many in the tightly knit community, that three months is not enough for the killing of Iraqi women, children and elderly "I was expecting that the American judiciary would sentence this person to life in prison and that he would appear and confess in front of the whole world that he committed this crime, so that America could show itself as democratic and fair,'' he said. US military prosecutors had worked for more than six years to bring Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich to trial on manslaughter charges that could have sent him away to prison for life. But only weeks after the long-awaited trial started, they offered Wuterich a deal that stopped the proceedings and could mean little to no jail time for the squad leader who ordered his men to "shoot first, ask questions later." The 31-year-old Marine, who was originally accused of unpremeditated murder, pleaded guilty on Monday to negligent dereliction of duty for leading the squad after a roadside bomb exploded, killing a fellow Marine and wounding two others. Prosecutors argued he lost control after seeing the body of his friend blown apart by the bomb and led his men on a rampage in which they stormed two nearby homes, blasting their way in with gunfire and grenades. The squad did not take any gunfire during the 45-minute raid. Wuterich, who was indicted in 19 of the 24 deaths, faces a maximum of three months in confinement, two-thirds forfeiture of pay and a rank demotion to private when he's sentenced. The seven other Marines initially charged were exonerated or had their cases dropped. issuance of such sentences," he said on Tuesday. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/234594dc95b0787f3e1bb70440eedb5f Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork