Ex-Chief of Iraq Prisons Must Testify
A military judge on Saturday ordered the former commander of U.S. prisons in Iraq to testify at the trial of a soldier who says he was ordered to abuse detainees at Abu Ghraib.
The judge, Army Col. James Pohl, said Brig. Gen. Janis Karpinski’s testimony at the trial of Sgt. Javal S. Davis would be limited to conditions at Abu Ghraib and interactions there between guards and interrogators.
Davis has acknowledged stepping on the fingers and toes of detainees. He told investigators that military intelligence personnel appeared to approve.
Karpinski has denied knowing about any abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib until photos were made public in April showing prisoners being tormented by their U.S. captors. She was relieved of her command.
Davis, of Roselle, N.J., faces charges that include conspiracy to maltreat detainees and assault. Pretrial hearings at Ft. Hood on Saturday for Davis and Spc. Sabrina Harman had been scheduled for next year in Baghdad. No reason was given for the decision to move the trials to the U.S. Davis’ trial is to begin Feb. 2, and Harman’s March 30.
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