US | Iraq Marines May Drop Massacre Murder Charges Negligence charge eyed for sarge who led fatal attack on 24 Iraqis By Peter Fearon Posted Oct 5, 2007 3:45 AM CDT Copied A U.S. soldier stands guard with an Iraqi national policeman, in background, during a joint operation in the Khadra neighborhood of western Baghdad, Iraq on Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) (Associated Press) A Marine whose squad killed 24 Iraqi men, women and children in the so-called Haditha Massacre may not face murder charges. An investigating officer has recommended that Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich should be tried instead for negligent homicide, which carries a maximum three-year penalty. The Iraqis were killed when Marines threw grenades and fired on unarmed civilians in their homes following a roadside bombing of a Marine convoy. Wuterich said he will "always mourn the unfortunate deaths of the innocent Iraqis who were killed during our response to that attack." But "based on the information I had at the time, I made the best decisions I could have at that time," he said at one hearing. "Engaging was the only choice." Read These Next Gavin Newsom has filed a massive lawsuit against Fox News. White House rolls with Trump's 'daddy' nickname. New Fox star, 23, misses first day after car troubles. New York Times ranks the best movies of the 21st century. Report an error