Family to Visit Freed Marine

The family of a Marine sergeant whose conviction was overturned in a major Iraqi war crimes case plans to visit him in San Diego after his release from a military jail.

Attorney Babu Kaza tells the Associated Press in an e-mail that the family of Sgt. Lawrence Hutchins III will see him for the first time as a free man since Christmas 2005, before he deployed to Iraq.

The 26-year-old Hutchins left the brig at Camp Pendleton on Monday and will return to his unit after a military judge determined he is not a flight risk while his case is being appealed.

Hutchins' conviction was overturned in April, but the Navy is appealing the ruling and wanted to keep him confined during the process, which could take until next year.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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