2 Marines Face Courts-Martial in Death of Prisoner in Iraq

Two Marines face courts-martial on charges including assault and dereliction of duty in the death of an Iraqi prisoner in their custody, a Camp Pendleton spokeswoman said.

Maj. Clark A. Paulus is to be arraigned on four charges and Sgt. Gary Pittman faces six charges in the death of a 52-year-old Iraqi man who was allegedly mistreated at a Marine detention facility in southern Iraq last year, said 1st Lt. Amy Malugani, a public affairs officer.

Maj. Gen. William Bowdon, the commanding general at Camp Pendleton, dismissed the most serious charge, negligent homicide, against Paulus and Lance Cpl. Christian Hernandez.

Bowdon decided on the courts-martial Friday after receiving recommendations last month from an officer investigating the case, Malugani said Tuesday.

Overall, five Marines were investigated during an Article 32 hearing in February. Bowdon dismissed all charges against two other Marines and one faced administrative discipline. Article 32 hearings are the military equivalent of a civilian grand jury probe.