FORT HOOD, Texas – Army Pfc. Lynndie England, who said she was only trying to please her soldier boyfriend when she took part in detainee abuse at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison, was sentenced late Tuesday to three years behind bars for her crimes.
England’s sentencing wrapped up the last of nine courts-martial of low-level soldiers charged in the abuse scandal, which severely damaged America’s image in the Muslim world and tarnished the U.S. military at home and abroad.
England was convicted Monday on six of the seven counts against her.
England apologized Tuesday for posing for the notorious photos, and directed blame toward Pvt. Charles Graner during her unsworn statement to the five military jurors.
“I was used by Pvt. Graner,” England said. “I didn’t realize it at the time.”
England’s defense has contended that she is a weak, compliant person who took part in the detainee maltreatment to please Graner, who prosecutors said was the domineering ringleader of the abuse by a group of U.S. troops.
The charges against the 22-year-old reservist from rural West Virginia carried up to nine years, but prosecutor Capt. Chris Graveline asked the jury to imprison her for four to six years. The defense asked for no time behind bars.
England appeared in several of the best-known images taken by U.S. guards at Abu Ghraib in Iraq in late 2003. In one photo, she held a naked prisoner on a leash, while in others she posed with a pyramid of naked detainees and pointed at the genitals of a prisoner while a cigarette hung from a corner of her mouth.
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