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| Abu Ghraib dog handler gets jail |
| 2006-03-24 |
| A US Army dog handler was sentenced to six months in prison for tormenting detainees at Baghdad's notorious Abu Ghraib jail with his unmuzzled Belgian shepherd, an Army spokeswoman said on Wednesday. Sgt Michael Smith, 24, faced up to 8 1/2 years in prison after he was found guilty on six of 13 counts brought against him. He will also have his rank reduced to private and must pay a total of $2,250 in fines for harassing and threatening inmates in 2003 and 2004, Army spokeswoman Shaunteh Kelly said. After he serves his 179-day sentence, he will be released from the military with a bad conduct discharge, Kelly said. That is one step above a dishonorable discharge. Photos of inmates being intimidated by dogs and sexually humiliated were broadcast around the world after the abuses became public in 2004, undermining Washington's efforts to win support for its war in Iraq. Several of these photos were introduced as evidence in Smith's trial. Prosecutors said during the trial that Smith took pleasure in forcing detainees to do what he called "the doggie dance" as they squirmed in terror. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 6,6, and a baked chicken dinner. He's screwed. |
| Posted by: Glaiter Elmating6733 2006-03-24 11:42 |