Prisoner abuse hearing opens for pregnant soldier

A military hearing opened today to determine if a heavily pregnant young soldier should be court-martialled for her actions at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, where she was photographed smiling and giving the thumbs-up sign in the presence of naked, hooded detainees.

Private First Class Lynndie England arrived in the court in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, for the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing.

Although the hearing is open, as soon as it began the lawyers involved in the case went into a private meeting.

A Fort Bragg spokesman, Colonel Billy Buckner, said the prosecution has 25 potential witnesses.

Chief defence lawyer Rick Hernandez said he planned to call witnesses both in the courtroom and by telephone from Iraq.

The hearing is the first chance in court for the 21-year-old Army reservist’s lawyers to make their case that she was following orders from higher-ups when she was photographed mocking naked detainees at the prison.

Witnesses on a list the defence released earlier this year included Vice President Dick Cheney, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and top generals, although military officials say it is doubtful they will appear.

England, from Fort Ashby, West Virginia, is seen smiling for the camera in one picture, cigarette in her mouth, as she leans forward and points at the genitals of a naked, hooded Iraqi.

Another photo shows her holding a leash that encircles the neck of a naked Iraqi man lying on his side on a cell block floor, his face contorted.

England is charged with 13 counts of abusing detainees and six counts stemming from possession of sexually explicit photos which the Army has said do not depict Iraqis. The maximum possible sentence is 38 years in prison.

England is one of seven reservists from the 372nd Military Police Company who have been charged in the scandal. One, Specialist Jeremy Sivits, has already pleaded guilty and been sentenced to a year in prison.

“The government has levelled their sights on Ms England,” said defence lawyer Rhidian Orr said last week. “I feel that the US government is taking full control of the issue and attacking Ms England when she’s not necessarily to blame.”

Specialist Charles Graner, 35, another soldier in England’s unit, also has been charged with abuses and was involved in a romantic relationship with England.

He faces adultery charges for allegedly having sex with England last October.

She was visibly pregnant in court last month, and her lawyers have said the child is Graner’s.