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Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months

By Jeralyn, Section War In Iraq
Posted on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 07:36:47 PM EST
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Sgt. Javal Davis has been sentenced by a military jury to six months in jail and a bad conduct discharge for abusing prisoners at Abu Ghraib. He admitted the abuse and left it for the jury to determine his punishment. He could have received 6 1/2 years on the pleas, but the prosecution stipulated to no more than 18 months. Here's what he admitted:

The former Abu Ghraib guard confessed earlier this week to stepping on the hands and feet of a group of handcuffed detainees and falling with his full weight on top of them.

He had been charged with battery, dereliction of duty and lying to Army investigators. His lawyer argued:

Bergrin said Davis will forever have a felony conviction on his record, and that he has performed 10 months of menial duties, including painting curbs and picking up trash, while confined to a U.S. base in Iraq after his arrest.

"How much more do we kick him when he's down on the ground?" he asked.

What do you think, is it a fair sentence or too light?

< Interview With Abu Ghraib Conscientious Objector | Churchill's Students Defend Him >

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    Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months | 12 comments (12 topical)
    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#2)
    by brian on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:12:43 PM EST
    What did his superior officers get?

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#3)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:17:34 PM EST
    His attorney actually asked: "How much more do we kick him when he's down on the ground?" he asked. Irony is survived by its offspring Cynicism and Despair. Services will be held Sunday.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#4)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:44:19 PM EST
    Knowing the way this administration operates I guess we should be happy he didn't get the Congressional Medal of Honor. Clyde

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#5)
    by wishful on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 08:55:17 PM EST
    Anyone have the transcript of the Victim Impact Statements from the Sentencing hearing?

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 09:18:06 PM EST
    I think we should make Alberto Gonzalez do it instead. Twice. With a bag over his head. While being **** with a lightbulb. Assuming all that is legal, of course.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Fri Feb 04, 2005 at 11:40:46 PM EST
    Too lenient. Although perhaps he should have rolled over on his superiors. If that were the case, his punishment would have been fine. But otherwise, he should have gotten hard time at Leavenworth.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#7)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 08:39:38 AM EST
    He didn't get hard time because he ratted out the more culpable "bad apples" like Sgt. Graner (cooperation with prosecution). Forget this guy, he's small potatoes...what about the officers and chain of command...generals, Rumsfeld, Alberto Gonzales and the others who would have been tried as war criminals under a Nuremberg type standard?

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 08:46:31 AM EST
    Goshers, Mister Law Buddy! What if he'd killed someone???? Oh, wait, I know. NINE months!

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#9)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 09:11:26 AM EST
    before deciding on sentences,it would also be fair to know how many brave American soldiers were saved by the information that was taken from theses humiliated Islamo-Fascist scum. I have traveled extensively through the country and I believe the democrats focus on worrying more about the Islamo-Fascist scum then our brave military cost us the election.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 10:18:49 AM EST
    I think the Republicans will pretend to be Democrats and leave comments implying that the prisoners at Abu Ghraib were dangerous terrists, and the soldiers were doing a good job, and the results of their torture of the prisoners were that American lives were saved -- when there's no evidence for any of that, and ample evidence against much of it.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 10:28:51 AM EST
    You know, to me, the prosecution of these low level folks is just inconsequential. It really doesn't matter what sentence they get. Remember what the neocons said: it made them sick to see those pictures. Now cameras are banned. You connect the dots, kimosabe.

    Re: Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Sat Feb 05, 2005 at 11:12:05 AM EST
    Anybody else need to stifle a laugh when a neocon calls someone else a fascist? Islamo-fascist scum. It's fun to kill some people. I am a born-again. I believe we were created. I continue to hope we can evolve.

    Jury Sentences Abu Ghraib Guard to Six Months | 12 comments (12 topical)