Lynndie England to get her comeuppance

England faces sentence after Abu Ghraib conviction
27/09/2005 - 11:37:50

Army Private Lynndie England, the 22-year-old reservist who appeared in photos smirking amid naked prisoners at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison, stood at attention as she was convicted of taking part in abusing detainees.

Wearing her dark green dress uniform at Fort Hood in Texas, England showed no obvious emotion yesterday after the jury foreman read the verdict. Asked for comment later, defence lawyer Captain Jonathan Crisp said: “The only reaction I can say is: I understand.”

Her case now moves to the sentencing phase, which will be heard by the same jury of five male Army officers beginning today. It was unclear whether England would testify on her own behalf. She faces up to nine years in prison.

England became the most recognisable of the nine Abu Ghraib soldiers charged in the prison scandal after photos showing her with a naked detainee on a leash and pointing to detainees in other demeaning poses became public.

Her trial was the last in the scandal. Two other soldiers were convicted in trials and six made plea deals. Several of those soldiers testified at England’s trial.

Prosecutors used graphic photos of England to support their contention she was a key figure in the abuse conspiracy, a scandal that badly damaged the United States’ image in the Muslim world despite quick condemnation of the abuse by US President George Bush.

England was found guilty of one count of conspiracy, four counts of maltreating detainees and one count of committing an indecent act. She was acquitted on a second conspiracy count pertaining to the leash incident.

England tried to plead guilty in May to the same counts she faced this month in exchange for an undisclosed sentencing cap, but a judge threw out the deal after reputed abuse ringleader Charles Graner’s account cast doubt on whether she knew what she was doing when she participated in the abuse.

Beyond the sordid photos, prosecutors pointed to England’s statement to army investigators in January 2004 that the mistreatment was done to amuse the US guards at Abu Ghraib.

“The accused knew what she was doing,” said Captain Chris Graveline, the lead prosecutor. “She was laughing and joking. … She is enjoying. She is participating, all for her own sick humour.”

Crisp countered England was only trying to please Graner. “She was a follower. She was an individual who was smitten with Graner,” Crisp said. “She just did whatever he wanted her to do.”

England, from Fort Ashby, West Virginia, has said that Graner, now serving a 10-year sentence, fathered her young son. The defence argued England suffered from depression and that she had an overly compliant personality, making her a heedless participant in the abuse.

Graner, a defence witness at the sentencing, said pictures he took of England holding a prisoner on a leash were meant to be used as a training aid. In her earlier guilty plea, England had said the pictures were being taken purely for the amusement of Abu Ghraib guards.

Late yesterday, presiding judge Colonel James Pohl rejected a request by Crisp to allow testimony during the sentencing phase by an Army captain who has reported similar prisoner abuse by other US soldiers at a camp near Fallujah around the same time as the Abu Ghraib incidents.

Crisp said testimony by Captain Ian Fishback would provide evidence of a command breakdown in Iraq that might have led England and other soldiers to think detainee mistreatment was condoned by military leaders.

But the judge ruled that he saw no proof that the two abuse situations were related, or that abuse elsewhere would in any way lessen the blame England might deserve for Abu Ghraib.

Lynndie England goes to jail
28/09/2005 08:04 - (SA)

Fort Hood - Army Private Lynndie England, who said she was only trying to please her soldier boyfriend when she took part in detainee abuse at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison, was sentenced to three years behind bars.

England's sentencing late on Tuesday wrapped up the last of nine courts-martial of low-level soldiers charged in the scandal, which severely damaged America's image in the Muslim world and tarnished the US military at home and abroad.

The jury of five army officers needed about 90 minutes to determine their sentence for England, the 22-year-old from West Virginia who was the most recognisable of the reservists charged after photos of naked detainee in degrading poses became public.

England, who was convicted on Monday on six of seven counts involving prisoner mistreatment, sat with her eyes forward as the verdict was read, occasionally looking down.

'He used me'

She spent some time with her 11-month-old son, Carter, before shuffling out of the courthouse with her arms and legs in shackles. Her reddened eyes stared straight ahead as she made her way to a waiting van.

England apologised earlier on Tuesday for appearing in the photos, saying she did so at the behest of Private Charles Graner jun, who she said took advantage of her love and trust while they were deployed in Iraq.

"I was used by Private Graner," England said. "I didn't realise it at the time."

She was in several of the best-known photos taken by US guards at Abu Ghraib in late 2003. In one image she held a naked prisoner on a leash, while in others she posed with a pyramid of naked detainees and pointed at one man's genitals while a cigarette hung from the corner of her mouth.

England, speaking in response to questions from a defence lawyer, said she was embarrassed by the photos and apologised to the detainees and their families, as well as to American soldiers who may have suffered in Iraq for her actions.

England recounted how her relationship with Graner, 14 years her senior, developed as they prepared for deployment to Iraq with the 372nd Military Police Company in 2003.

"He was very charming, funny and at the time it looked to me like he was interested in the same things I was. ... He made me feel good about myself," she said. "I trusted him and I loved him. ... Now I know it was just an act to lure me in."

She says Graner is the father of her son.

Graner and another former guard were also convicted at trial, while six other soldiers struck plea bargains. Graner was sentenced to 10 years.

Graner said he told officers about detainee maltreatment, which he claimed was done by order of military intelligence personnel. And at times, he said, military intelligence officers actually were present for the abuse.

"I nearly beat an MI detainee to death with MI there," he said before Colonel James Pohl, the judge, interrupted his testimony.

Stjepan Mestrovic, a sociology professor at Texas A&M University called as an expert witness by the defence, testified that England should be punished lightly because of the "poisonous environment" that existed at Abu Ghraib.

"She was caught up in this chaotic situation like everyone else," said Mestrovic.

Wouldn't it be rather ironic if her prison guards beat her badly, urinated on her, totally degraded her and then published photographs of it all for the world to see. :mad: