Lynndie England sentenced to three years in prison

Lynndie England

FORT HOOD, Texas - Lynndie England, the US soldier pictured holding a leash to a naked Iraqi inmate at Abu Ghraib prison in a scandal that prompted global outrage, has been sentenced to three years in prison and given a dishonourable discharge.

In sentencing testimony just hours before, England, who had faced a maximum nine years behind bars, apologised for her actions and said she remained an American patriot.

"After the photos were released, I've heard that attacks were made on US armed forces because of them," she said.

"I apologise to coalition forces and all the families," England, speaking slowly, told the jury of five officers, also apologising to "detainees, the families, America and all the soldiers."

England, 22, was convicted on Monday of abuse such as being photographed pointing to the genitals of a naked Iraqi prisoner in a section of the prison were the administrative clerk did not have any official duties.

The former West Virginia chicken factory worker blamed her involvement on Charles Graner, the abuse ringleader and father of her child.

"I was embarrassed because I was used by Private Graner; I didn't realise it at the time," she said, sometimes pausing at length to gather her thoughts. "I trusted him and I loved him."

England's mother showed up briefly with the 11-month-old baby in the military courtroom for the first time, and the Army reservist talked at length about how the child, who bears a striking resemblance to Graner, had changed her life.

REMEMBER THE BABY

As the jury began its deliberations on the punishment on Tuesday evening, England telephoned her mother to ask her to return to the courthouse with the baby for their last time together before her sentencing.

England's testimony and appearance by the baby was a clear last effort to humanise a woman whose face is known worldwide but who has said little in public. Her lawyer, Capt. Jonathan Crisp, asked the jury to remember the baby and not sentence England to prison.

"Let her go home, send her home," Crisp said. "She will probably in all likelihood be facing this stigma for the rest of her life."

The prosecution asked the jury for a sentence of four to six years. "I cannot think of another incident that has more tarnished the image of the US Army," Capt. Chris Graveline said. "Who can think of a person who has disgraced the United States Army more?"

England was found guilty on six counts on Monday. All include the language of "wrongfully posing for a photograph."

The publication of these images early in 2004 caused major damage to America's image.

Asked by one of her lawyers about a photo of her baby with an American flag, England replied, "I'm still patriotic, ma'am, very much."

GRANER ADMITS ABUSE

By contrast, Graner, who is serving a 10-year sentence for abuses at the prison outside Baghdad, did not show any repentance earlier in the day and said he was acting on behalf of US military intelligence.

"Sir, I nearly beat a military intelligence detainee to death with military intelligence there," Graner, 37, told the court. "We treated each military detainee specifically on how the handler wanted."

Defence lawyers have sought to show that England was overly compliant to authority and Graner in particular. About England, Graner said, "She's young, she's suggestible."

England said Graner swept her off her feet.

"He was very charming, funny and, at the time, it looked like he was interested in the same things I was," she said. "I trusted him to help me out, to lead me to the right things."

The prosecution had agreed to a plea deal in May in which England would serve no more than 30 months in confinement. The judge negated the deal after hearing testimony from Graner that suggested England may not have been guilty.

England's case was the latest prosecution or plea bargain of low-level soldiers who served at Abu Ghraib.

The military has also reprimanded a small number of higher-ranking officers but none has faced criminal charges.

- REUTERS