Battalion leader responsible for 24 Iraqi murders charged with 'dereliction of duty'

July 11, 2007
Battalion leader responsible for 24 Iraqi murders charged with 'dereliction of duty'

SAN DIEGO - The leader of a battalion involved in the killings of 24 Iraqis in Haditha should face a court-martial for dereliction of duty, the investigating officer recommended in a report obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, 43, was charged in December with dereliction of duty and violation of a lawful order for failing to report and investigate the deaths of the men, women and children in the biggest U.S. criminal case involving civilian deaths to come out of the Iraq war.