Don't be a fool and die for your country. Let the other sonofabitch die for his.
-- General George S. Patton
September 26, 2005
PFC England Convicted On Six Of Seven Counts
FORT HOOD, Texas Pfc. Lynndie England, 22, 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.
According to CNN.com:
Monday, September 26, 2005; Posted: 6:28 p.m. EDT (22:28 GMT)
U.S. Army Pfc. Lynndie England walks outside the courthouse Friday in Fort Hood, Texas. FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) -- Army Pfc. Lynndie England, whose smiling poses in photos of detainee abuse at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison made her the face of the scandal, was convicted Monday by a military jury on six of seven counts.
England, 22, 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.
The jury of five male Army officers took about two hours to reach its verdict. Her case now moves to the sentencing phase, which will be heard by the same jury beginning Tuesday.
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 plea deal. She now faces a maximum 10 years in prison.
England, wearing her dark green dress uniform, stood at attention Monday as the verdict was read by the jury foreman. She showed no obvious emotion afterward.
Asked for comment after the verdict, defense lawyer Capt. Jonathan Crisp said, "The only reaction I can say is, 'I understand."'
England's trial is the last for a group of nine Army reservists charged with mistreating prisoners at Abu Ghraib in Iraq, a scandal that badly damaged the United States' image in the Muslim world despite quick condemnation of the abuse by President Bush.
Two other troops were convicted in trials and the remaining six made plea deals. Several of those soldiers testified at England's trial.
Prosecutors used graphic photos of England to support their contention that she was a key figure in the abuse conspiracy. One photo shows England holding a naked detainee on a leash. In others, she smiles and points to prisoners in humiliating poses.
The conspiracy acquittal came on a count pertaining to the leash incident; she was found guilty of a maltreatment count stemming from the same incident.
Beyond the sordid photos, prosecutors pointed to England's statement to Army investigators in January 2004 that the mistreatment was done to amuse the U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib.
"The accused knew what she was doing," said Capt. Chris Graveline, the lead prosecutor. "She was laughing and joking. ... She is enjoying, she is participating, all for her own sick humor."
Crisp countered that England was only trying to please her soldier boyfriend, then-Cpl. Charles Graner Jr., labeled the abuse ringleader by prosecutors.
"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 defense argued that England suffered from depression and that she has an overly compliant personality, making her a heedless participant in the abuse.
England's earlier attempt to plead guilty under a deal with prosecutors was rejected by Col. James Pohl, the presiding judge. Pohl declared a mistrial during the sentencing phase when testimony by Graner contradicted England's guilty plea.
Graner, a defense 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 guilty plea, England had said the pictures were being taken purely for the amusement of Abu Ghraib guards.
Once in a while the system works. If you followed my previous posts on this subject you'll know how I felt about all of this. I believe those involved with this (from top to bottom) should have to pay for their actions. Anyone who tries to argue that they were just following orders must not be familiar with the term "lawful order". We all have an obligation to disobey any order that is unlawful or may hurt/harm themselves or those under their care. Let's hope for a reasonable sentence!
**UPDATE** England received 3 years!
lagleRock Out!
Her actions had far reaching consequences, she is just being held accountable for those actions. For sure she won't get the same treatment as Martha Stewart once she is sentenced.
It's a tragedy that those in the media get to walk free when they are equally guilty of trashing the reputation of this nation and it's military members, by these same reporters who can distort the truth, even fabricate stories, then simply leave their positions in one organization to re-emerge in another,unaccountable, still spewing the biases and lies to the all believing world. The NYT is shrinking due to this but they still haven't determined the cause.
Well for once I find myself agreing with Jack. I will say this however, I'm not really sure where I stand on this, because had you given any of those prisoners a weapon and a chanch they would not think twick about killing any of us. So It really dosnt bother me that they were tortured or humiliated. As for your Lawfull order I dont think you need me to tell you that I'm sure you have done some not so lawful things as I have in my career. I think its a shame that a patriot is going to jail for some shit bag Iraqie (Spelling ?) a real shame, as manny of you know I have no sympothy what so ever for those people. But thats just my .02
Defender1
Posted by: Defender1 at September 27, 2005 10:12 AMWhat a load of crap!
PFC England should be getting a medal instead of time but now that this country seems hell bent on sliding towards political correctness, especially dealing with these turd trolling terrorist towel heads we now waste tax dollars indicting and convicting soldiers for rightously screwing over some fucking animals who should be rights be boiled in their own piss...