Pennsylvania: Marine Accuses Lawmaker of Slander

A former Marine Corps lance corporal sued Representative John P. Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, right, accusing him of slander. The onetime marine, Justin Sharratt, says his reputation was damaged by Mr. Murtha’s saying that marines had killed women and children “in cold blood” in Haditha, Iraq, in November 2005. Mr. Sharratt, 24, was initially charged with three counts of premeditated murder in the case, but was exonerated. The lawsuit says Mr. Murtha violated Mr. Sharratt’s rights to due process and presumption of innocence with comments on news programs in May 2006. Mr. Sharratt, who was honorably discharged last year, says he has received hate e-mail messages and been called “baby killer” when he goes out in Canonsburg, about 15 miles south of Pittsburgh. Prosecutors have said 24 Iraqis, including women and children, were killed in Haditha on Nov. 19, 2005, after one marine was killed and two others were wounded by a bomb. Mr. Murtha, a decorated veteran, attributed the killings to troops under pressure.

Source: NYTimes.

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