Hearing for England adjourns indefinitely

The fifth day of military hearings for Pfc. Lynndie England on charges connected to the abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad included a defense request for Vice President Dick Cheney to appear as a witness.

The defense is known to be seeking to compel testimony by a former Army reservist who has told investigators and reporters that military intelligence agents helped instigate the abuses. Defense lawyers have contended that England and the other guards facing charges were following orders from military intelligence.

Cheney was among a long wish-list of potential witnesses, which included many of the generals involved with the prison. Defense lawyers did not explain in open court Saturday why they want Cheney's testimony. The hearing officer, Col. Denise Arn, said she will study the request but gave no indication when or how she might rule. The hearing was adjourned, and Arn set no date for when it might resume. England's lawyers speculated that the hearing might reconvene in a month.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/08/07/lynndie.england.hearing/


Source: Aftermath News Service
Top Stories - August 9th, 2004