Jack Zimmermann, an attorney for Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, one of the Marines accused in the death of 24 civilians in Haditha, is asking to depose Cong. John Murtha (D-PA) about his comment that a general told him that the accused and his squad killed in cold blood.

...Zimmermann, an attorney for Lance Cpl. Stephen B. Tatum, told judge Lt. Col. Eugene Robinson that he also wants a deposition from Gen. Michael Hagee, former commandant of the Marine Corps now retired, to find out what he may have said to Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., and to Marines serving in Iraq.

Zimmermann said outside a Camp Pendleton courtroom that he is concerned about possible tainting of the jury pool among Marines at Camp Pendleton who've deployed to Iraq.

Tatum, 26, whose court-martial is scheduled to begin March 28, is charged with involuntary manslaughter, reckless endangerment and aggravated assault for his role in the deaths of the civilians in Haditha, which took place on Nov. 19, 2005, after a Marine was killed in a roadside bombing.