A U.S. Marine squad leader who told his men "We just got away with murder" after they kidnapped and killed an Iraqi grandfather in Iraq last year was found guilty Thursday of unpremeditated murder, larceny, making a false official statement and conspiracy. Marine Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III was found not guilty of kidnapping, assault, housebreaking and obstruction of justice.The conspiracy conviction includes conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit larceny, conspiracy to obstruct of justice and conspiracy to make false official statements.
Witnesses said Hutchins led the unit in planning to kidnap and kill a terror suspect in the middle of the night. But when the unit could not find the suspect, they randomly executed Hashim Ibrahim Awad, 52, a father of 11 and grandfather of four who lived next door.
After Hutchins shot the man in the head, the squad then set a stolen AK-47 and shovel next to the corpse to suggest he was an insurgent planting a roadside bomb.
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