England pleads not guilty in abuse trial

FORT HOOD, Texas, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- Testimony began Wednesday at Fort Hood, Texas, in the court-martial of U.S. Army Pfc. Lynndie England, who has entered a plea of innocent.

The 22-year-old reservist from rural West Virginia faces seven counts of conspiracy and prisoner abuse at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison, and faces up to 11 years in a military prison if convicted.

In May, she attempted to plead guilty to the same offenses but a mistrial was declared when a co-defendant -- her ex-boyfriend -- contradicted her by taking the blame for some of the misconduct.

Her defense is expected to focus on the fact as the lowest-ranking soldier present, she was merely following orders to appear in the now-famous photos of her with prisoners in humiliating situations.

The Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram said England's defense will likely focus on her history of having diminished mental capacity that precluded her from engaging in a conspiracy to mistreat prisoners.

Her ex-boyfriend, Spc. Charles Graner, was convicted in January and sentenced to 10 years in prison, and is expected to testify for the defense, the report said.