[JURIST] US Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich [advocacy website] has been ordered to face court-martial on charges of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice in connection to the killing of 24 Iraqi civilians at Haditha [USMC timeline; JURIST news archive] in November 2005, the US Marine Corps said Monday. Wuterich was initially charged with unpremeditated murder, but the investigating officer in Wuterich's case recommended [JURIST report] that the more serious charge be dropped.

Another Marine implicated in the Haditha incident, 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson, will face court-martial for making false official statements, obstruction of justice and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps. AP has more.