US jury deliberations expected in Abu Ghraib abuse case
A jury of five Army officers was expected to hear closing arguments and begin deliberating today whether Pfc. Lynndie England is guilty of abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in late 2003.
Prosecutors and defence lawyers rested their cases on Friday before adjourning for the weekend to hone their closing arguments for the jury.
England, 22, is charged with seven counts of conspiracy and abuse that carry a maximum sentence of 11 years.
Her trial at Fort Hood, Texas, is the last one for a group of nine Army reservists charged with mistreating prisoners at Abu Ghraib. Two others have been convicted at trial, including reputed ringleader Charles Graner, while the remaining six made plea deals.
The prosecution used graphic photos of England to support its contention she was a key member of the group of abusers. Those images included England holding a naked detainee on a leash and pointing to other prisoners in humiliating poses.
The defence team has countered England suffered from depression and that she has an overly compliant personality, making her a heedless participant in the abuse.
Xavier Amador, a clinical psychologist from New York, testified on Friday that England’s behaviour was guided by Graner, described by other guards as the dominant personality in their part of the prison.
“It was very much like a little kid looking to an adult for what to do and what not to do,” Amador said.
England and Graner had a romantic relationship while they were deployed. She has said Graner, now serving a 10-year sentence, fathered her young son.
Two former US guards at Abu Ghraib testified last week that Graner dominated England.
Graner, called as a defence witness, would say only that England was generally compliant and trusted him, and that she had no reason to believe he would do anything “illegal or inappropriate”.
Prosecutors tried to paint Amador as a professional defence witness who tailored his testimony to benefit England.
Maj. Jennifer Lange, an Army psychiatrist called by prosecutors to rebut Amador’s testimony, said on the stand that she interviewed England and found no evidence of depression or other personality disorders.
