Marine Gets 15 Years for Killing Iraqi

A jury of Iraq veterans sentenced a Marine sergeant to 15 years in prison and dishonorable discharge today for conspiracy to commit murder and unpremeditated murder, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins offered no apology for leading a mission of Marines to kidnap and murder an Iraqi man in April 2006. He said the killing frightened insurgents and was “part of our mission.”

Just a few hours earlier, another jury sentenced Cpl. Marshall Magincalda to 448 days in prison for conspiracy to commit murder and housebreaking in the same case. But Magincalda was freed, having served the time while awaiting trial. Five other Marines and a Navy corpsman have been handed sentences ranging from bad-conduct discharge to eight years in prison in the case.