Hutchins' lead defense attorney, Richard Brannon, countered that the actions of Hutchins and his men was "a failure of command, " alluding to allegations that their platoon leader's rough handling of some detainees sent the wrong message to the Marines.
Iain Dowie's long-term future as Tigers manager is also uncertain and his hopes of keeping the job will not have been helped by his side's failure to close out what would have been only their second win under his command.
"Ensuring accountability for any failure to comply with international law is also difficult when drone attacks are conducted outside the military chain of command", she added.