CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- A Marine charged with voluntary manslaughter and other crimes in the 2005 deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians -- including women and children -- in Haditha will stand trial next month at Camp Pendleton.

Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich, 27, did not enter a plea at Wednesday's arraignment before judge Lt. Col. Jeffrey Meeks, who scheduled trial for Feb. 25. Wuterich reserved a decision on whether he will be tried by a judge or a jury.

The former squad leader, who was on his first tour of duty in Iraq, faces up to 15 years in prison and a dishonorable discharge if convicted of the most serious charges.

On Dec. 31, nine charges of voluntary manslaughter were referred against Wuterich, along with charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.

Charges of unpremeditated murder, soliciting another to commit an offense and making a false official statement were dismissed.

The charges stem from the deaths of 24 Iraqi civilians who were killed after Marine Lance Cpl. Miguel Terrazas died in a roadside bombing.

Eight Marines were originally charged, but charges were dropped against four of them.

During Wednesday's hearing, Meeks said Wuterich had made a written request through his attorneys for a speedy trial. Wuterich's military attorneys are scheduled to leave the Marine Corps in May, the judge said.

Pre-trial motions hearings were set for Feb. 13-15 and 20-22.

Prosecutors said they plan to have several expert witnesses testify, including two blood-stain experts, a wound expert, a forensic pathologist and a crime scene reconstruction expert.

Defense attorneys said they would not call any psychological experts to testify about Wuterich's mental health.

Meeks told attorneys one of the prosecution's witnesses -- blood-stain expert Special Agent Michael Maloney -- is a fellow church congregant and that he used Maloney as an expert witness when he was a military defense attorney.

But Meeks told defense attorneys he would not let that influence any of his dealings with Maloney during the trial. Civilian defense attorney Neal Puckett questioned Meeks and said he was satisfied the judge could be impartial.

Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Central Command, also referred charges of making false official statements, obstruction of justice and attempting to fraudulently separate from the Marine Corps against 1st Lt. Andrew Grayson on Dec. 31, but dismissed a charge of dereliction of duty.

The dates for Grayson's arraignment and court-martial have not yet been set.

The trial of the highest-ranking Marine charged in the deaths of the Iraqis, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, is scheduled April 28 at Camp Pendleton.

Chessani, 44, is accused of violating a lawful order and dereliction of duty for failing to report and accurately investigate the Nov. 19, 2005, deaths. If convicted, the Bronze Star recipient and former battalion commander could be sentenced to 2 1/2 years in the brig.

Chessani's attorneys contend the charges are politically motivated.

Another Marine accused in the case, Lance Cpl. Stephen Tatum, will stand trial March 28 on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault.