Third trial in Hutchins case set to begin

CAMP PENDLETON - A third trial for a U.S. Marine Corps non-commissioned officer accused of killing an unarmed civilian in Iraq nine years ago is expected to begin today in a military court at Camp Pendleton.

Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III of Plymouth, Massachusetts was convicted of unpremeditated murder in 2007 and sentenced to 15 years behind bars but that was later reduced to an 11-year sentence.

Hutchins' conviction was overturned in 2010 because his lawyer was allowed to retire on the eve of trial and again two years ago because his initial confession was deemed to have been illegally obtained...