U.S. Marine convicted in murder plot

Aug 03,2007 00:00 by UPI

LOS ANGELES -- A U.S. Marine was convicted of unpremeditated murder in the kidnapping and execution of a suspected Iraqi insurgent in Hamandiya.

Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins was charged with premeditated murder, which carried a mandatory life sentence, but a military jury downgraded the charge to unpremeditated murder, the Los Angeles Times said Thursday.

Prosecutors said Hutchins, 23, of Plymouth, Mass., was the leader of an eight-man squad when he convinced the others to kill a suspected insurgent who had been repeatedly arrested and released.

The killing, which occurred last year, was supposed to be a warning to other Iraqis not to attack Marines with roadside bombs or sniper shots, the newspaper said.