The U.S. military says three Marines from Camp Pendleton, California are to be tried for allegedly murdering an Iraqi civilian in the Iraqi town of Hamdania.
Authorities said Monday that Corporal Marshall Magincalda, Private First Class John Jodka and Lance Corporal Jerry Shumate will face military trials in the April 26 shooting death of 52-year-old Hashim Ibrahim Awad.
Officials say the defendants also will be charged with conspiracy, housebreaking, and seizing and holding the victim against his will, but will not face the death penalty. Five other people have also been charged in the case.
The accused Marines are alleged to have attempted to cover up the killing by planting a shovel and assault rifle next to Awad's body to make it look as if he had been an insurgent planting a roadside bomb.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.