Lynndie England to fight Abu Ghraib abuse charges in new trial News
Lynndie England to fight Abu Ghraib abuse charges in new trial

[JURIST] Pfc. Lynndie England [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive] goes before a military court again in Fort Hood [official website] Texas Tuesday planning to fight seven charges of abusing prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison [JURIST news archive]. Her first trial last May ended prematurely after the presiding judge threw out her guilty plea [JURIST report], saying that statements by England about her understanding of the purpose of her activities with the Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib could not be reconciled with testimony from Army Spc. Charles Graner [Wikipedia profile; JURIST news archive]. The charges against England include conspiracy, maltreatment of prisoners, and indecent acts, and follow the 2004 disclosure of graphic photos of England taken inside the prison [JURIST report]. England's trial is the last of a group of soldiers charged with Abu Ghraib abuses. Two other soldiers have been convicted while six others have entered into plea agreements. England's lawyer said her case will focus on a history of mental health problems that can be traced from England's childhood and the force that Graner, convicted for his own role in the abuse scandal [JURIST report] had exerted over her. AP has more.