[JURIST] Three more US Marines will face courts-martial [press release] for their roles in the April kidnapping and murdering of an Iraqi civilian in Hamdania [USMC timeline; JURIST news archive]. Camp Pendleton officials said Wednesday that Lance Cpl. Tyler Jackson, Lance Cpl. Robert B. Pennington and Cpl. Trent D. Thomas will face charges [DOC text] of murder, kidnapping, conspiracy, housebreaking, and larceny, but that none of the three will be eligible for the death penatly. Thomas is also charged with making a false official statement.

A total of eight US military personnel were initially charged [JURIST report] in the incident, in which they are said to have taken Hashim Ibrahim Awad [Wikipedia backgrounder] from his home, shot him, and then made it seem that he was an insurgent planting a roadside bomb by placing a shovel and rifle next to his dead body. Courts-martial have already been ordered [JURIST report] for three other Marines – Pfc. John J. Jodka III, Cpl. Marshall L. Magincalda and Cpl. Jerry E. Shumate. Jodka and Magincalda have pleaded not guilty [JURIST report] to the charges against them [DOC text]. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Melson J. Bacos has pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to kidnapping and conspiracy charges, and is expected to testify against the Marines facing courts-martial. A decision as to whether the final Marine charged, Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III [JURIST report], will face court-martial is still pending. AP has more.