California ? A Marine accused in the deaths of 17 Iraqi civilians told a military court Thursday “the threat had to be neutralized” after a roadside bomb hit his convoy and killed a fellow Marine.

Marine Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich made his unsworn statement as a military hearing ended into the slayings in the town of Haditha.

“Engaging was the only choice,” he said.

In all, 24 civilians were killed by Wuterich’s squad in the aftermath of a bomb blast Nov. 19, 2005. Among the dead were women and children who were killed in their homes as Marines went on a house-to-house sweep.