Abu Ghraib trials moved to Fort Hood
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The courts-martial of three U.S. soldiers accused of abusing prisoners at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison will be moved from Iraq to Fort Hood, Texas, the military announced Wednesday.
The decision affects the military trials of Sgt. Javal Davis and specialists Charles Graner and Sabrina Harman. Graner's case is the first scheduled to be heard, on January 7, 2005.
Graner's lawyers had asked for a change of venue in August, citing concerns about bringing witnesses to Iraq to testify.
Prosecutors allege he was a ringleader of the physical abuse and sexual humiliation of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, a facility notorious under the rule of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
The abuses came to light in April, after a series of graphic photographs of soldiers mistreating Iraqi prisoners were made public.
Graner's lawyer, Guy Womack, said in August that his client and other military police officers involved in the abuses were acting on orders from military intelligence officers and civilian contractors.
Three other soldiers have pleaded guilty to charges related to the Abu Ghraib incidents. Spc. Jeremy Sivits and Staff Sgt. Ivan Frederick were members of Graner's unit, the 372nd Military Police Company; the third, Spc. Armin Cruz, was an intelligence analyst with the 325th Military Intelligence Battalion. (Full story)
An investigation led by former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger found the abuses were "freelance activities" on the part of guards at the prison, but it concluded that others up the chain of command bore direct and indirect responsibility for the mistreatment of prisoners. (Full story)
