US reservist found guilty of Abu Ghraib abuses
FORT HOOD, Texas, Tuesday (Reuters) A military jury found Army
reservist Sabrina Harman guilty of all but one charge related to the
abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib in a scandal that badly damaged
America's image abroad.
Harman, 27, appeared in some of the most notorious Abu Ghraib prison
photographs, including one in which she posed with a pyramid of naked
detainees.
The jury found Harman guilty of one count of conspiracy related to
that incident, which was broadcast across the world's media a year ago.
In only the second Abu Ghraib case to go to trial, the military panel
also found Harman placed wires on a hooded Iraqi and warned him he would
be electrocuted if he stepped off a box - one of five maltreatment
charges she faced.
She was found guilty on that charge even though Ivan Frederick,
another soldier already convicted of Abu Ghraib abuses, testified last
week he placed the wires. The incident at the prison outside Baghdad
became a symbol of American arrogance following the Bush
administration's decision to wage war against Iraq.
A former pizza restaurant worker, Harman, 27, who pleaded innocent
last week, could face a maximum of 5 1/2 years in prison. The court will
begin the penalty phase of her trial on Tuesday.
Harman, who holds the rank of specialist, showed no visible reaction
as the jury foreman read out the verdict. She had no comment as she left
the courthouse. The jury found Harman not guilty on one of seven
charges, that she had maltreated prisoners by photographing and
videotaping detainees forced to masturbate at Abu Ghraib. That charge
could have added an additional year to her sentence.
Earlier on Monday, Harman's lawyer showed the jury a letter she had
written to her roommate just days before the most notorious abuses took
place.
"Kelly, I don't like that any more. At first it was funny, but these
people are going too far," Harman wrote to her roommate on Oct. 20,
2003. "At first I had to laugh. The only reason I want to be there is to
get the pictures to prove the U.S. is not what they think."
"But I don't know if I can take it mentally. What if that was me in
their shoes? These people will be our future terrorists. Kelly, it's
awful ... Both sides of me think it's wrong. I thought I could handle
anything; I was wrong." The defense introduced the handwritten letter to
Harman's best friend and roommate, Kelly Bryant, in explaining why the
reservist had photographed scenes of abuse.
"Shame on the Army for putting in an ill-equipped, ill-trained
specialist in a position where she has to challenge her NCO
(noncommissioned officer) leadership. ... This is not one of the Army's
highest moments," defense lawyer Frank Spinner said in his closing
arguments.
In his closing arguments, prosecutor Capt. Chris Graveline portrayed
Harman as a willing and active participant. "She was entirely into this
maltreatment," he said. "This is not funny. It is not a joke, and there
is something wrong with this."
Six U.S. soldiers including Frederick have already pleaded guilty to
Abu Ghraib abuses. Ringleader Charles Graner was convicted to 10 years
in prison in January.
Lynndie England, the woman photographed holding a leash to the neck
of a naked prisoner, pleaded guilty. But the judge in the Abu Ghraib
cases, James Pohl, declared a mistrial after defense lawyers presented
information suggesting she was innocent and was following orders. |