Opening statements heard in court-martial of Navy SEAL accused of abuse

AP ^ | 5/24/5 | SETH HETTENA

[SmithL]

SAN DIEGO -- A Navy SEAL lieutenant failed to set an example for his men when he punched a hooded and handcuffed Iraqi detainee, a military prosecutor said Tuesday in opening statements at the officer's court-martial.

"In this country, we hold ourselves to a higher standard than the enemy," said the prosecutor, Navy Lt. Jonathan Freimann.

A jury of six Navy officers is hearing the case of Lt. Andrew Ledford, who faces up to 11 years in military prison if convicted of charges including assault, dereliction of duty and conduct unbecoming an officer. Although the detainee, Manadel al-Jamadi, died in Abu Ghraib prison shortly after the SEALs handed him to the CIA, Freimann said the government would present no evidence linking Ledford to the death.

"This case is about a platoon commander's failed leadership," Freimann said. "He chose poorly by joining them instead of leading them."

The prosecutor showed jurors several photos, including one of Ledford holding up a Red Bull energy drink as he and his men posed around al-Jamadi, who lay hooded in the back of a Humvee. Another photo showed a different detainee, who appeared to be wet, wearing a child's Halloween pumpkin mask while another SEAL knelt over him.

[cynicom]

Re-read your posts--I do not engage in conversations with people that descend to gutter name calling.

I am neither interested in or impressed by anything you might have to say.

[Toadman]

ping