Marine Sergeant Frank Wuterich, 27, faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings - the most serious war crimes allegations faced by US troops in Iraq.
A US marine was ordered to execute a room full of terrified Iraqi women and children during an alleged massacre in Haditha, Iraq that left 24 people dead, a military court has been told.
The testimony came in the opening of a preliminary hearing for Marine Sergeant Frank Wuterich, who faces 17 counts of murder over the Haditha killings, the most serious war crimes allegations faced by US troops in Iraq.
Lance Corporal Humberto Mendoza:"When I opened the door there was just women and kids, two adults were lying down on the bed and there were three children on the bed ... two more were behind the bed," Mendoza said.
"I looked at them for a few seconds. Just enough to know they were not presenting a threat ... they looked scared."
After leaving the room Mendoza told Tatum what he had found.
"I told him there were women and kids inside there. He said 'Well, shoot them,'" Mendoza told prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Sean Sullivan.
"And what did you say to him?" Sullivan asked.
"I said 'But they're just women and children.' He didn't say nothing."
Mendoza said he returned to a position at the front of the house and heard a door open behind him followed by a loud noise. Returning later that afternoon to retrieve bodies, he said he found a room full of corpses.
Prosecutors allege marines went on a killing spree in Haditha in retaliation for the death of their colleague in the bomb attack.
Defence lawyers will argue that Wuterich followed established combat zone rules of engagement.
A total of eight marines were initially charged in connection with the Haditha deaths. Four were charged with murder while four senior officers were accused of failing to properly investigate the killings. Of the four marines charged with murder, two have since had charges withdrawn, while allegations against Tatum are also expected to be dismissed.
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