Marine Describes Haditha Shootings

Wednesday, July 18th 2007, 7:59 am

By: News On 6

CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (AP) -- A preliminary hearing to determine whether a Marine from Oklahoma will be tried on murder charges in the deaths of several Iraqis continued Wednesday at Camp Pendleton, California.

A squad member testified Tuesday that Lance Corporal Stephen Tatum of Edmond gave orders to shoot into a room full of children and young women before apparently doing the job himself.

Two dozen Iraqis were killed as Marines shot motorists and charged through houses in Haditha following a roadside bomb attack that had killed a Marine in 2005.

Tatum is one of three Marines charged in the killings. Four officers are accused of dereliction of duty for failing to investigate.