Manslaughter Charges Dropped Against Marine Sniper

CAMP PENDLETON -- Manslaughter and dereliction of duty charges have been dropped against a Marine sniper accused of wrongfully killing Iraqi citizens, it was reported Friday.

Camp Pendleton Lt. Gen. Samuel Helland, head of the base's I Marine Expeditionary Force, dismissed the charges this week against Sgt. John Winnick II, The North County Times reported.

The San Diego native was one of four Marines implicated in a June 17 incident in which two unarmed men were killed in Iraq's Al Anbar province.

The Marines said they believed the men were planting roadside bombs.

"In light of all the circumstances, the commanding general of the I MEF had determined that Sgt. Winnick's actions do not warrant referral to court-martial," Marine Corps spokesman Mike Alvarez told the Times.

Helland's ruling was based on a recommendation from another officer who presided over a two-day Article 32 investigative hearing into the matter, similar to a civilian preliminary hearing.

During that hearing, Winnick's platoon commander, Lt. Dominic Corabi, testified that the rules of engagement in Iraq had not been clearly explained.

He said that snipers such as Winnick had no clear understanding about when they could shoot a suspected insurgent at long range and senior commanders were unable to define terms such as "hostile intent" and "positive identification."