Accused Marine's case coming to a close

Sergeant Lawrence G. Hutchins III is from Plymouth.

Accused Marine's case coming to a close
By Associated Press | August 1, 2007

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine from Massachusetts accused of masterminding a plot to kidnap and kill an Iraqi man told his squad they "got away with murder" after firing three fatal rounds into the victim's head, a prosecutor said yesterday in a closing argument of a court-martial.

Sergeant Lawrence G. Hutchins III of Plymouth is charged with murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, and other offenses in the April 26, 2006, slaying.

"After he brags to his Marines that, 'Gents, we just got away with murder,' he directs his Marines to cover up the scene," Lieutenant Colonel John Baker, a prosecutor, told jurors. The defense was expected to follow with its closing argument.

Hutchins was the leader of a squad of seven Marines and a Navy corpsman charged in the killing. Prosecutors have singled him out as the ringleader.

They say the squad's most senior Marine grew frustrated that a suspected insurgent kept evading criminal prosecution, so he dreamed up a plot to kidnap and kill the man.

Closing arguments also were underway yesterday for Corporal Marshall Magincalda, the other man still facing charges in the case.



more