A military hearing to review three counts of unpremeditated murder filed against a U.S. Marine with ties to Western Pennsylvania has been postponed.

Lance Cpl. Justin L. Sharratt faced a hearing next Tuesday at Camp Pendleton, Calif., on charges resulting from an incident in 2005 in which 24 Iraqi civilians were killed in the town of Haditha. Camp Pendleton officials yesterday said that government authorities have requested a continuance and a new date has not been set.

Known as an Article 32 proceeding, it is similar to a preliminary hearing and is held to determine if a court-martial is warranted. Cpl. Sharratt, who is accused of fatally shooting three Iraqi men, is one of eight Marines to face charges stemming from the Haditha incident.

Cpl. Sharratt, 22, was born in Washington, Pa., and lived as a child in North Huntingdon before moving to Granger, Ind. His parents are natives of Washington County and live in Canonsburg.