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WASHINGTON, May 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A US military judge
presiding over the court-martial of Lynndie England, the soldier photographed
with an Iraq detainee on a leash, Wednesday threw out her guilty plea in the Abu
Ghraib prison scandal.
"There can be no findings of guilty that can be declared at this point," said Colonel James Pohl, the judge,
after hearing testimony from Charles Graner, who was also involved in the abuse
scandal.
"This trial is going to stop today and pick up at
some time in the future," Pohl told the military court at Fort Hood, Texas.
At England's sentencing hearing, Graner testified
that pictureshe took of her holding a naked prisoner on a leash at Abu Ghraib
near Baghdad were meant to be used as a legitimate training aid for other
guards, and argued that was a legitimate prison procedure.
England told the judge when she pleaded guilty Monday
that she knew the pictures were being taken purely for the amusement of
theguards.
Pohl said the two statements could not be reconciled.
"Both sides have indicated to me there is no way to resolve this inconsistency,"
he said.
"There is evidence being presented that you are not
guilty," hetold England.
England, 22, pleaded guilty on Monday to several
charges, including conspiracy to maltreat prisoners, maltreating prisoners and
committing an indecent act, after reaching a plea bargain withmilitary
prosecutors last week which would lower her maximum possible sentence from 16
and a half years to 11 years in prison.
England was one the seven members of the 372nd
Military Police Company charged in the abuse scandal. Four of them have entered
guilty pleas, and the only soldier to stand trial so far was Charles Graner, who
was serving a 10-year jail term. Enditem
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