FORT HOOD, Texas, 28 September 2005 — Lynndie England’s case moved to the sentencing phase yesterday. She was convicted on Monday of taking part in abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. She faces up to nine years in prison.
Army Pfc. England, the 22-year-old reservist who appeared in photos smirking amid naked prisoners at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison, stood at attention as she learned of her conviction.
Wearing her dark green dress uniform, England showed no obvious emotion Monday after the jury foreman read the verdict. Asked for comment afterward, defense lawyer Capt. Jonathan Crisp said, “The only reaction I can say is, ‘I understand.’”
Her case now moves to the sentencing phase, which will be heard by the same jury of five male Army officers, which began yesterday. It was unclear whether England would testify on her own behalf.
England became the most recognizable of the nine Abu Ghraib soldiers charged in the prison scandal after photos showing her with a naked detainee on a leash and pointing to detainees in other demeaning poses became public.
Her trial was the last in the scandal; two other soldiers were convicted in trials and 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, a scandal that badly damaged the United States’ image in the Muslim world despite quick condemnation of the abuse by President Bush.
England 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 pertaining to the leash incident.
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 deal after reputed abuse ringleader Charles Graner Jr.’s account cast doubt on whether she knew what she was doing when she participated in the abuse.
Beyond the sordid photos, prosecutors pointed to England’s statement to Army investigators in January 2004 that the mistreatment was done to amuse the US 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.”
