US reservist found guilty of Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse

A military jury has found a US army reservist guilty of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

A military jury has found a US army reservist guilty of the abuse of Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad.

Sabrina Harman (27) appeared in some of the most notorious Abu Ghraib prison photographs, including one in which she posed with a pyramid of naked detainees.

The jury found the specialist guilty of one count of conspiracy related to that incident, which was broadcast across the world a year ago.

In only the second Abu Ghraib case to go to trial, the military panel also found Harman placed wires on a hooded Iraqi and warned him he would be electrocuted if he stepped off a box - one of five maltreatment charges she faced.

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She was found guilty on that charge even though Ivan Frederick, another soldier already convicted of Abu Ghraib abuses, testified last week he placed the wires.

A former pizza restaurant worker, Harman, who pleaded innocent last week, could face a maximum of five-and-a-half years in prison. The court will begin the penalty phase of her trial on Tuesday.

She showed no reaction as the jury foreman read out the verdict and had no comment as she left the courthouse.

The jury found Harman not guilty on one of seven charges, that she had maltreated prisoners by photographing and videotaping detainees forced to masturbate at Abu Ghraib. That charge could have added an additional year to her sentence.

Earlier on Monday, Harman's lawyer showed the jury a letter she had written to her roommate just days before the most notorious abuses took place.

"Kelly, I don't like that any more. At first it was funny, but these people are going too far," Harman wrote to her roommate on October 20th, 2003. "At first I had to laugh. The only reason I want to be there is to get the pictures to prove the US is not what they think."

"But I don't know if I can take it mentally. What if that was me in their shoes? These people will be our future terrorists. Kelly, it's awful. . . . Both sides of me think it's wrong. I thought I could handle anything; I was wrong."

The defence introduced the handwritten letter to explain why the reservist had photographed scenes of abuse.

"Shame on the army for putting in an ill-equipped, ill-trained specialist in a position where she has to challenge her NCO (noncommissioned officer) leadership. . . . This is not one of the Army's highest moments," her defence lawyer said in his closing arguments.

But the prosecutor portrayed Harman as a willing and active participant. "She was entirely into this maltreatment," he said. "This is not funny. It is not a joke, and there is something wrong with this."

Six US soldiers including Frederick have already pleaded guilty to Abu Ghraib abuses. Ringleader Charles Graner was convicted to 10 years in prison in January.

Lynndie England, the woman photographed holding a leash to the neck of a naked prisoner, pleaded guilty. But the judge in the Abu Ghraib cases, James Pohl, declared a mistrial after defence lawyers presented information suggesting she was innocent and was following orders.