The Hindu : International : Pre-trial hearing for U.S. soldier

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, May 12, 2005

International

International

Pre-trial hearing for U.S. soldier

FORT HOOD (TEXAS): In her civilian life, Spc. Sabrina Harman was a pizza shop manager in Lorton, Virginia. In Iraq, photographs of her — and by her — shocked the world. Spc. Harman is expected to go to trial this week on charges that she took part in mistreating detenus at Abu Ghraib prison. A pre-trial hearing was scheduled on Wednesday to hash out a series of motions by the defence to exclude certain evidence from the trial. The 27-year-old reservist is accused of writing ``rapeist'' on the leg of one prisoner and forcing another to stand on a box with wires in his hands and telling him he would be electrocuted if he fell. She is also accused of taking photographs of a group of naked detenus. Her legal team tried to get the photograph-related counts dismissed, arguing that the prisoners were not harmed because they were wearing sandbags on their heads. Assuming there is no last-minute plea deal in the case, Spc. Harman would proceed to trial on Thursday on charges of conspiracy to maltreat detenus, five counts of maltreating detenus and dereliction of duty in November 2003. The charges carry a maximum of 6 years.

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