Marine in Iraq war crime case seeks clemency

A lawyer for a Camp Pendleton Marine convicted of murder in a major Iraq war crime case has asked the Navy to grant him clemency.

Maj. Babu Kaza argued during a hearing Wednesday before the Naval Clemency and Parole Board that Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins should be granted his freedom because of an error at his 2007 trial that led to a lower court overturning his conviction last year.

A higher court then reinstated the conviction and sent Hutchins back to jail last month for the 2006 murder of an Iraqi man.

Hutchins led a squad accused of kidnapping Hashim Ibrahim Awad from his home in April 2006.

Kaza says Hutchins proved to be an outstanding Marine after he was released and allowed to work at Camp Pendleton.