US Marine agrees to lesser charges in Iraq murder

LOS ANGELES, Oct 21 (Reuters) One of seven US Marines charged with murder in the death of an Iraqi grandfather will plead guilty next week to charges of assault and obstruction of justice, his lawyer said today.

The move by Pfc. John Jodka follows a plea deal in the case earlier this month by Navy medic Melson Bacos under which he agreed to testify against the accused Marines.

Bacos was given a one-year maximum sentence.

Jodka's expected pleas ''are in his best interest and certainly in the best interest of his family and of the Marine Corps,'' Jodka's attorney Joseph Casas said in a statement.

The accused have been charged with murder, kidnapping, giving false statements and conspiracy in the April killing of Ibrahim Awad, 52, in the Iraqi town of Hamdania.

If convicted, the Marines face life in prison.

The Marine Corps is grappling with allegations of troop misconduct in Iraq, including this incident and the alleged massacre in November of two dozen civilians in the town of Haditha by Marines from another unit.

Casas said Jodka would detail his knowledge of the events in Hamdania during a sentencing hearing scheduled for November 15.

REUTERS PDS RAI0209