The only US Marine convicted in the killing of 24 unarmed civilians in the Iraqi city of Haditha in 2005, will face no jail time after pleading guilty to a dereliction of duty.

Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich’s plea bargain ends the largest and longest running criminal case against US troops to have come out of the Iraq war. Wuterich now faces a maximum of three months confinement and a demotion in rank to Private. A two-thirds cut in pay was not enforced, as Wuterich, who is divorced, had sole custody of his three daughters.

The decision has caused outrage in Iraq where residents slammed it as “an insult to all Iraqis” and solid proof that the Americans don’t respect human rights”. Awis Fahmi Hussein, a survivor of the 2005 killings said,

"I was expecting that the American judiciary would sentence this person to life in prison and that he would appear and confess in front of the whole world that he committed this crime, so that America could show itself as democratic and fair."

In a pre-sentencing statement read out in court, Wuterich expressed remorse for the deaths and directly addressed the victims family members, saying,

"Words cannot express my sorrow for the loss of your loved ones. The truth is, I don't believe anyone in my squad ... behaved in any way that was dishonorable or contrary to the highest ideals that we all live by as Marines."

Military prosecutors have worked for six years to bring the case to trial, where all other defendants have had their charges acquitted or dismissed. The trial started last month, giving Wuterich just weeks before the deal was offered.

The killings in Haditha, on November 19th 2005, continue to fuel anger in Iraq where it is seen as one of the war's defining moments, and has even faced comparison to the infamous 1968 massacre at My Lai.

See our earlier post: US Marine faces trial over 2005 Iraq deaths (04 Jan 2012)