Second US soldier accused of prisoner abuse
A second American soldier will be arraigned next week in Iraq on charges that he abused Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison, his civilian attorney said.
Specialist Charles Graner, a member of the 372nd Military Police Company, will be formally charged with maltreatment and indecent acts at a hearing on May 20, attorney Guy Womack said in Pittsburgh.
Graner, 35, is the second soldier to face a court-martial. Specialist Jeremy Sivits will stand trial in Baghdad on May 19.
Graner’s lawyer expects his client to plead not guilty, and a trial date will be set.
Seven soldiers, including Graner, face criminal charges for the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners. In photographs published around the world, Graner is shown standing behind a pile of naked Iraqi prisoners. In one, he is standing arm-in-arm with Private Lynndie England, who is pregnant with his child.
Womack said he wants to delay the arraignment because of scheduling conflicts, but Graner will have an Army-appointed attorney at his side should Womack be unable to travel to Iraq.
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