USA/IRAQ: U.S. MILITARY COURT HEARS TESTIMONY THAT ARMY PRIVATE INVOLVED IN IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE SCANDAL LYNNDIE ENGLAND WAS AN UNDISCIPLINED SOLDIER

Record ID: 677531

  • Title: USA/IRAQ: U.S. MILITARY COURT HEARS TESTIMONY THAT ARMY PRIVATE INVOLVED IN IRAQI PRISONER ABUSE SCANDAL LYNNDIE ENGLAND WAS AN UNDISCIPLINED SOLDIER
  • Date: 4th August 2004
  • Summary: (W1) FORT BRAGG, FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINE, UNITED STATES (AUGUST 4, 2004) (REUTERS - MUST COURTESY ARTIST PAT LOPEZ) COURTROOM SKETCH OF ATTORNEY NEAR SPEAKER PHONE SPEAKER PHONE AND ATTORNEY VARIOUS OF SKETCH OF PRIVATE LYNNDIE ENGLAND (RIGHT) WITH HER ATTORNEYS DURING HEARING (2 SHOTS)
  • Embargoed: 19th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FORT BRAGG, FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINE, UNITED STATES/ ABU GHRAIB PRISON, IRAQ
  • City:
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Conflict,General
  • Reuters ID: LVABQTNGB2X8OYJXC612K30RD58I
  • Story Text: A U.S. military court hears testimony that army
    Private Lynndie England was undisciplined.


    Lynndie England was an undisciplined soldier who
    disobeyed orders to stop sleeping with a comrade, witnesses
    said on Wednesday (August 4) as prosecutors sharpened their
    attack on the woman who caused widespread outrage when she
    was pictured holding a naked Iraqi prisoner on a leash.

    England, who defense lawyers have called a poster child
    for the Bush administration's flawed war policies, also
    made a snide remark when an Iraqi detainee at Abu Ghraib
    prison was forced to masturbate while soldiers watched, a
    witness said.

    Testimony from England's fellow military police
    officers came on the second day of a hearing to determine
    if the pregnant England should stand trial for prisoner
    abuse in a scandal that shook U.S. efforts to stabilize
    Iraq.

    Wednesday's testimony from members of England's 372nd
    Military Police Company, heard by telephone in the
    courtroom, served to sharpen the focus on the competing
    theories of prosecution and defense lawyers.

    Prosecutors spotlighted England's personal behaviour
    and sloppy work record at Abu Ghraib. Defense attorneys
    homed in on the actions of Military Intelligence in a bid
    to bolster England's claim she was only following orders to soften up
    p
    risoners for questioning.

    Specialist Matthew Wisdom, a prison Military Policeman,
    said he witnessed an incident last November in which an
    Iraqi prisoner was backed up against a wall and was
    masturbating with another prisoner kneeling before him,
    mouth open. A group of soldiers watched, he said, including
    England and Staff Sergeant Ivan Frederick, who is also
    charged.

    Wisdom said he heard England speak in a sarcastic tone
    of voice. "She said 'he's getting hard,'" he said.

    Prosecutors have attempted to portray England as a
    rogue soldier, in keeping with President George W. Bush's
    statement that the abuse of prisoners was the fault of a
    small group.

    Defense lawyers have focused on the role of Military
    Intelligence officers, contending they were giving orders
    to MPs to soften up prisoners.

    Specialist Matthew Bolinger, her immediate supervisor
    at Abu Ghraib, testified England was late for work, left
    early and disobeyed orders confining her to a life of
    "work, chow and church." Bolinger said she was ordered
    several times to stop sleeping with Specialist Charles
    Graner, who is also charged in the abuse scandal.

    The 21-year-old England returned to court on Wednesday
    after missing part of Tuesday's session for an unscheduled
    doctor's visit. Media reports say the father of the child
    she is expecting is Graner.

    England was charged along with six other military
    police reservists over the abuse of prisoners. She faces
    numerous counts of abusing prisoners, committing indecent
    acts and disobeying orders. If convicted, she faces a
    dishonourable discharge and up to 38 years in prison.
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