US military reduces sentence for Marine convicted of killing Iraqi News
US military reduces sentence for Marine convicted of killing Iraqi

[JURIST] The US military has reduced the sentence of Marine Corps Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III [JURIST news archive] handed down after following his conviction [JURIST report] last August for killing an Iraqi civilian, AP reported Thursday. Hutchins' attorney said he learned Tuesday that Hutchins will now serve only 11 years in detention at Fort Leavenworth and will have his rank reduced to Private before being dishonorably discharged. Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice [UCMJ], he is still entitled to an additional appeal. AP has more.

In August a military court-martial jury sentenced [JURIST report] Hutchins to 15 years in prison for his role in the April 2006 kidnapping and murder of Iraqi civilian Hashim Ibrahim Awad in Hamdania [USMC timeline; JURIST news archive]. Hutchins was convicted of murder, conspiracy to commit murder, making a false official statement, and larceny.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Peace treaty between Japan and 48 nations formally ended WWII

On April 28, 1952, a peace treaty between Japan and 48 nations took effect, formally ending World War II.

Review the terms of the San Francisco Treaty.

Former CIA official Aldrich Ames pleads guilty to spying for USSR

On April 28, 1994, Aldrich Ames, a former CIA official, pleaded guilty to passing US secrets to the USSR during the Cold War. Ames further confessed that he continued spying for Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Learn more about the case of Aldrich Ames from the FBI. Also read a CNN interview with Ames.