A former squad mate of a Marine from Meriden implicated in the deaths of 19 Iraqis has testified that after a roadside bombing, the group raced to nearby homes, firing rounds and tossing grenades for 45 minutes even though the Marines did not take gunfire, cross a single insurgent or find a weapon.
Former Cpl. Steven Tatum gave his account on Tuesday at the Camp Pendleton, Calif., trial of Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, of Meriden, who faces nine counts of manslaughter for the deaths of civilians, including unarmed women and children, in the town of Haditha in 2005.
Wuterich is the last defendant in one of the biggest criminal cases against U.S. troops from the war.
The defense said Wuterich believed insurgents were in the homes. Tatum says he also feared that at the time.
