Prison Abuse Lawyers to Question Generals

[Kadie]

Prison Abuse Lawyers to Question Generals

54 minutes ago

By FISNIK ABRASHI and JIM KRANE, Associated Press Writers

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Defense lawyers for soldiers on trial in the Iraqi prisoner abuse case won permission Monday to question two top U.S. generals, and the military judge ordered that the Abu Ghraib prison not be torn down because it is a crime scene.

The judge, Col. James Pohl, left open the possibility of calling other senior figures if the defense could show their testimony was relevant — which Guy Womack, the civilian lawyer for Graner, said the lawyers intended to do.


Womack said outside the pretrial hearing that there was "a good chance" he would seek to question Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. He said he doubted he would try to depose President Bush (news - web sites), although "certainly we will be considering it."

more... http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040621/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_prisoner_abuse_11

[Spazito]

1. This is good news!

The judge seems to be interested in justice not protecting the military or bush admin.

[Demeter]

2. After 3.5 years, It's Hard to Hope or Be Enthused

but there are increasing signs of a turnaround in the American mindset, a ressurection of the rule of law. It's been a weary, bumpy, saddening ride--let's hope that hope returns, with dividends.

[UpInArms]

3. related article:Judge in Abuse Case Will Allow Questioning of Top Officers

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/21/international/middleeast/21CND-ABUS.html?ex=1088481600&?en=8bce1179992e7cb8&?ei=5062&?partner=GOOGLE

BAGHDAD, Iraq, June 21 — Three American soldiers accused in the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal faced initial hearings in Baghdad today, and the judge said their lawyers could interview top commanders as part of the defense.

The judge, Col. James Pohl, also declared that the prison was a "crime scene" and should not be demolished as suggested by President Bush after the prison scandal broke in April.

Today's hearings dealt with legal issues involving Sgt. Javal S. Davis, Staff Sgt. Ivan L. Frederick II and Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr., who were arraigned in May on charges stemming from their suspected abuse of Iraqi prisoners and who face general courts-martial.

Motions in Sergeant Frederick's hearing were rescheduled today for next month, because he declined to waive his right to civilian representation after his civilian lawyer did not appear.

The judge granted the defense request to interview top officials in the chain of command, including Gen. John P. Abizaid, the commander of American forces in the Middle East, Lt. Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez, the ground commander in Iraq, and others.

<snip>

Lawyers also asked to be provided with Justice Department and Pentagon memorandums on what treatment is acceptable for detainees and when the Geneva Conventions are applied. The judge denied the requests.

...more...

[Beetwasher]

4. Anyone Having Trouble Rating Yahoo Stories Today?

:shrug:

[dArKeR]

5. Crime scene declared at Abu Ghraib

A military judge yesterday declared the notorious Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad a crime scene that cannot be dismantled -- as US President George W. Bush had offered -- and denied a defense motion to move the trial of a soldier accused of abusing prisoners there out of Iraq.

The judge, Colonel James Pohl, issued the orders at pretrial hearings for Sergeant Javal Davis, one of the seven soldiers who had been accused of mistreating Iraqi detainees. One of the seven, Specialist Jeremy Sivits, pleaded guilty last month and was sentenced to one year in prison.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/06/22/2003176020