Dec 31 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it would go to trial in the case against the accused ringleader in the 2005 Haditha, Iraq killing of 24 unarmed Iraqi civilians.

Here are details on the eight men originally charged, four of whom now face courts martial.

* STAFF SGT. FRANK WUTERICH - Charged on Monday with voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, dereliction of duty and obstruction of justice.

The squad leader, Wuterich was an athletic honor-roll student in high school who played with the marching band and wore a military-style crew cut. He enlisted after his 1998 graduation from high school and was serving his second tour of duty in Iraq when the Haditha incident occurred.

Wuterich, who is married with three children, could face more than 160 years in prison if convicted.

* LANCE CPL. STEPHEN TATUM - Faces a late March trial on charges of involuntary manslaughter and aggravated assault. Other Marines have testified Tatum was among those who "cleared" two Iraqi homes, resulting in 19 deaths, including many women and children.

Another Marine testified Tatum told him to shoot a group of Iraqi women and children he found on a bed in a closed room. That Marine said he walked away but saw Tatum return and heard a loud noise, possibly gunfire or a grenade. Tatum faces up to 19 years in prison if convicted of all charges.

* LT. COL. JEFFREY CHESSANI - The highest-ranking U.S. Marine charged in the Haditha case, the former battalion commander faces an April court martial accused of dereliction of duty and violating a lawful order. He faces up to two and a half years in prison.

* FIRST LT. ANDREW GRAYSON - The second officer still facing charges, Grayson is slated for a future court martial for making false official statements, obstruction of justice and attempting to separate fraudulently from the Marine Corps.

* SGT. SANICK DELA CRUZ - Initially charged with unpremeditated murders, he was granted immunity from prosecution after agreeing to testify. Dela Cruz has admitted to urinating on the skull of one of the dead Iraqi men because he was upset about a well-liked Marine's death that day.

* LANCE CPL. JUSTIN SHARRATT - The original charges of unpremeditated murder were dropped.

* CAPT LUCAS McCONNELL - Originally charged with dereliction of duty, McConnell was granted immunity and said he would cooperate in the remaining Haditha prosecutions.

* CAPT. RANDY STONE - Charges of dereliction of duty have been dismissed. (Reporting by Adam Tanner; editing by Todd Eastham)

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