Court Overturns| Marine’s Conviction

     (CN) – The Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday overturned the conviction of a marine accused of shooting an Iraqi insurgent in 2006.

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     The Washington, D.C.-based court ruled 8-1 that former Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins didn’t get a fair trial because one of his lead attorneys left active duty and the case that was before the court martial, The Los Angeles Times reported.
     Hutchins was accused of running a plan to kidnap and kill a suspected insurgent then claim he died in a gun battle as a threat to stop insurgents from planting roadside bombs.
     Hutchins was convicted in 2007.
     The Marine Corps has 30 days to appeal.