U.S. soldier accused of killings of 24 Iraqi civilians reaches plea deal

LOS ANGELES — A US Marine accused in the 2005 killings of 24 Iraqi civilians pleaded guilty Monday to negligence, as manslaughter charges were dropped in a deal under which he faces three months’ imprisonment at most.

Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich, the commander of a group of Marines whose other members have been exonerated, had faced nine counts of voluntary manslaughter and other charges over the killings in the Iraqi town of Haditha.

A sentencing hearing will be held Tuesday, said a spokesman for Camp Pendleton, south of Los Angeles, where the 31-year-old went on trial earlier this month.