Lynndie England Convicted in Abu Ghraib Prison Scandal

When details of the abuse of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad began to surface, the media plastered everywhere the smiling photos of Pfc. Lynndie England standing next to prisoners in humiliating poses. England’s face quickly became the face of the scandal, as the world waited to see what punishment would be dealt to the captors who mistreated their prisoners. The scandal caused serious damage to the image of the United States among countries in the Muslim world, even though the abuse was condemned quickly by President Bush and administration leaders. England, 22, was the last of a group of nine Army reservists to be tried for their crimes. Two of the soldiers accused in the scandal were convicted in trials and six others, several of whom testified at England’s trial, made plea deals that allowed them to avoid trial and receive lesser sentences.

The military jury of five male Army officers took about two hours to reach their verdict, finding England 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. She had attempted to plead guilty to the same counts she faced this month in exchange for a sentencing cap, but Col. James Pohl, the presiding judge, threw out the plea deal. England showed no emotion as the verdict was read, and after the trial Capt. Jonathan Crisp, her defense lawyer, stated, "The only reaction I can say is, ‘I understand.’"

During the trial, prosecutors portrayed England as a key figure in the abuse conspiracy, supporting their claims with graphic photos showing England in various poses with detainees, some of which have been displayed in the media since the abuse came to light. One photo shows England holding a naked detainee on a leash. Although she was found guilty of one count of maltreatment in the leash incident, she was acquitted of conspiracy in the same incident. In addition to the sordid pictures, prosecutors read to jurors England’s statement in January 2004, in which she said that the mistreatment was orchestrated and carried out in order to amuse the U.S. guards at the prison. Capt. Chris Graveline, the lead prosecutor, told jurors, "The accused knew what she was doing. She was laughing and joking. ... She is enjoying, she is participating, all for her own sick humor." England’s lawyer responded that his client engaged in the activities only to please her boyfriend, another soldier, who has been referred to as the ringleader of the abuse. Her boyfriend, Charles Graner Jr., is now serving a 10-year sentence for his role in the abuse. The defense painted a picture of England as a compliant person suffering from depression who was just a heedless participant in the abuse. According to Crisp, "She was a follower, she was an individual who was smitten with Graner. She just did whatever he wanted her to do." England has said that Graner is the father of her young son.

Late Monday Crisp requested that an Army captain be allowed to testify during the sentencing phase to describe similar prisoner abuse by other U.S. soldiers at a camp near Fallujah, but Pohl rejected the request. Crisp claimed that testimony by Capt. Ian Fishback would point to a distinct command breakdown in Iraq that could have led the soldiers at Abu Ghraib, including England, to believe that mistreatment of detainees was encouraged by military leaders. But the judge ruled that abuse at other facilities would not lessen the blame England deserved, and there was no proof that the two abuse situations were related. Pohl also ruled that during the sentencing phase, prosecutors can use part of a statement by Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt, a senior officer serving in Iraq when the abuse took place. Kimmitt’s statement may be particularly damaging to England, since he says that her conduct threatened the U.S. military mission in Iraq. Because of today’s guilty verdicts, England now faces up to nine years in prison. The sentencing phase of her trial will be heard by the same jury, beginning next Tuesday.