Abu Ghraib pre-trial hearing relocated to Germany

[Rose Siding]

BAGHDAD - The United States military in Iraq has relocated the pre-trial hearing of US soldiers involved in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal to a US military base in Mannheim, Germany.

Four of the seven soldiers accused of mistreatment, assault, coercion and conspiracy to mistreat prisoners would be questioned in Mannheim on 23 and 24 August, said US military spokeswoman Jill Morgenthaler Tuesday in Baghdad.

However, the remaining proceedings in the case against Charles Graner, Megan Ambuhl, Ivan Frederick and Javal Davis would remain in Baghdad, said Morgenthaler.

Military court judge Colonel James Pohl had ordered the transfer after a number of defence lawyers failed to attend earlier hearings because of security reasons and the high costs involved in travelling to strife-torn Iraq.

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=52&story_id=10488

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

1. Is that fucking ironic or what??

[mourningdove92]

2. Ironic is just the correct word.

Ok, maybe flabergasted.

[NYC]

3. Courts martial will take place in Iraq.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54968-2004Aug10.html

The two-day hearings for Staff Sgt. Ivan L. "Chip" Frederick II, Sgt. Javal S. Davis, Spec. Charles A. Graner Jr. and Spec. Megan Ambuhl are scheduled to start Aug. 23 in Mannheim. The legal procedures, known as Article 39 hearings, are equivalent to civilian court arraignments.

"The civilian defense attorneys requested that the Article 39 hearings not take place in Iraq due to the travel, the expense and the danger," said Col. Jill Morgenthaler, a spokeswoman for U.S.-led military forces in Iraq. "However, the venue for any courts-martial has not changed. They will still take place in Iraq."

[bpilgrim]

4. too big a target with iraq goin up in flames

but blame it on the defense lawyers - lol

peace