Taken from CBC's web page...
Last Updated Sat, 15 Jan 2005 18:55:07 EST
CBC News
FORT HOOD, TEXAS - "A military jury sentenced Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr. to 10 years in prison for Abu Ghraib abuses on Saturday.
He was also demoted to private and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits. When his prison sentence is completed, he will be dishonorably discharged.
U.S. Army Spc. Charles Graner (AP photo)
Asked to react to his sentence, Garner simply said: "There's a war on. Bad things happen."
Graner is the first U.S. soldier to be tried in connection with the prisoner abuse scandal at the Iraqi prison.
INDEPTH: Abu Ghraib
He was convicted Friday on five charges related to abusing Iraqi detainees.
Graner faced 10 counts under five separate charges: assault, conspiracy, maltreatment of detainees, committing indecent acts and dereliction of duty.
He was found guilty on all counts, except that one assault count was downgraded to battery.
During the five-day trial, the 36-year-old Pennsylvania reservist was accused of stacking naked prisoners in a human pyramid and later ordering them to masturbate while other soldiers took photographs.
He also allegedly punched one man in the head hard enough to knock him out, and struck an injured prisoner with a collapsible metal stick.
One Syrian prisoner characterized Graner as the "primary torturer," who whistled, sang and laughed while brutalizing him. He said he was forced to eat pork and drink alcohol in violation of his Muslim faith.
An Iraqi detainee said he was stripped by Graner and other Abu Ghraib guards, stacked up naked in a human pyramid while female soldiers watched, and later told to masturbate.
The defence had argued that Graner and other guards were following orders from intelligence agents at the prison and were told to use physical violence to prepare detainees for questioning.
Photos from the prison showing naked detainees posed in sexual positions, hooked to electrodes and tethered to a leash sparked international outrage.
Sheesh when i first heard this story i was hoping they would throw the book at the guy. Now on learning of his sentenced i'm wondering if 10 years is to much. Anyone else have any thoughts? To severe a sentence or not long enough? --- Kev
Last Updated Sat, 15 Jan 2005 18:55:07 EST
CBC News
FORT HOOD, TEXAS - "A military jury sentenced Army Spc. Charles Graner Jr. to 10 years in prison for Abu Ghraib abuses on Saturday.
He was also demoted to private and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits. When his prison sentence is completed, he will be dishonorably discharged.
U.S. Army Spc. Charles Graner (AP photo)
Asked to react to his sentence, Garner simply said: "There's a war on. Bad things happen."
Graner is the first U.S. soldier to be tried in connection with the prisoner abuse scandal at the Iraqi prison.
INDEPTH: Abu Ghraib
He was convicted Friday on five charges related to abusing Iraqi detainees.
Graner faced 10 counts under five separate charges: assault, conspiracy, maltreatment of detainees, committing indecent acts and dereliction of duty.
He was found guilty on all counts, except that one assault count was downgraded to battery.
During the five-day trial, the 36-year-old Pennsylvania reservist was accused of stacking naked prisoners in a human pyramid and later ordering them to masturbate while other soldiers took photographs.
He also allegedly punched one man in the head hard enough to knock him out, and struck an injured prisoner with a collapsible metal stick.
One Syrian prisoner characterized Graner as the "primary torturer," who whistled, sang and laughed while brutalizing him. He said he was forced to eat pork and drink alcohol in violation of his Muslim faith.
An Iraqi detainee said he was stripped by Graner and other Abu Ghraib guards, stacked up naked in a human pyramid while female soldiers watched, and later told to masturbate.
The defence had argued that Graner and other guards were following orders from intelligence agents at the prison and were told to use physical violence to prepare detainees for questioning.
Photos from the prison showing naked detainees posed in sexual positions, hooked to electrodes and tethered to a leash sparked international outrage.
Sheesh when i first heard this story i was hoping they would throw the book at the guy. Now on learning of his sentenced i'm wondering if 10 years is to much. Anyone else have any thoughts? To severe a sentence or not long enough? --- Kev