Marine Corps non-commissioned officer facing murder retrial granted delay

CAMP PENDLETON- A Marine Corps non-commissioned officer facing a murder retrial in military court for the 2006 death of an unarmed civilian in Iraq was today granted a delay of his arraignment at Camp Pendleton to allow him to hire a different attorney.

Sgt. Lawrence G. Hutchins III, of Plymouth, Mass., sought the change due to an alleged conflict of interest on the part of the USMC captain representing him, and also raised a concern that the judge had ''undue command influence'' to fairly preside in the case, said Lt. Col. Joseph Kloppel, a Marine Corps spokesman.

The proceeding was reschedul...