Witnesses testify to beating of Iraqi POWs

[lebkuchen]

UMM QASR, Iraq — In a second day of testimony Thursday to determine whether
charges of mistreating prisoners of war should be brought against four U.S. Army
reservists from Pennsylvania, an officer testified he saw a prisoner being thrown to
the ground and other prisoners being punched.


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On Wednesday, several government witnesses said they saw prisoners being treated
with excessive violence.

Spc. Brian Taylor said he saw McKenzie kicking a prisoner in the groin.

Spc. Diane Rider testified that Edmondson, a close friend of hers, told her the soldiers
physically harmed a prisoner who was allegedly a rapist.

“She said they did it to teach the prisoner a lesson on how to treat women because he
was charged with rape,” she said.

Rider said Edmondson told her she met with other members of her unit after an
investigation into the allegations was launched, prompting the government attorneys
to add the possible charges of conspiracy to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice
to the list of charges.

Several of the reservists have experience in handling prisoners in their civilian jobs.

http://armytimes.com/story.php?f=1-292925-2170678.php