Defense in Haditha case alleges Marine Corps unfairly kept prosecution team on active duty

Defense: Marine Corps helped Haditha prosecution

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. — Defense lawyers for a Marine whose squad killed 24 Iraqis in Haditha allege that the Marine Corps unfairly allowed the prosecution’s team of military lawyers to remain on active duty.

Haytham Faraj told a military judge at Camp Pendleton on Tuesday that the Marine Corps has not done the same for the defense. Faraj is a former Marine now representing Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich as a civilian lawyer.

Wuterich is accused of manslaughter in nine deaths.

The Marine Corps denied requests by Faraj and another military defense attorney to postpone their retirement in 2008. They say a reservist for the prosecution, meanwhile, was specially selected to remain on active duty.

Prosecutors deny that, saying their team has lost two attorneys.