Ex-head of prisons to testify on abuse at Abu Ghraib

By T.A. Badger
The Associated Press

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FORT HOOD, Texas — A military judge yesterday ordered the former commander of U.S. prisons in Iraq to testify at the trial of a soldier who says he was ordered to abuse detainees at Abu Ghraib.

The judge, Col. James Pohl, said Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski's testimony at the trial of Sgt. Javal Davis would be limited to conditions at Abu Ghraib and the interaction there between guards and military interrogators.

Davis is among seven members of the Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company charged with humiliating and assaulting prisoners at the Baghdad prison.

Pfc. Lynndie England, whose court-martial is scheduled for Jan. 18, also sought to call Karpinski as a witness, along with Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The judge in her case rejected those requests, but allowed England's attorneys to submit a deposition from Karpinski as evidence.

Davis has acknowledged stepping on the fingers and toes of detainees, but told investigators that military intelligence personnel appeared to approve.

Karpinski has denied knowing about any mistreatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib until photographs were made public at the end of April showing hooded and naked prisoners being tormented by their U.S. captors. She was relieved of her command and is now in the Army Reserves.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

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