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| Marine reservist says he never hit Iraqi inmate who died |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 09/06/2004 |
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A Marine reservist at the center of an Iraq prisoner-abuse case took the stand last Wednesday and denied landing a powerful karate-kick in the chest of a 52-year-old Iraqi who later died. Asked repeatedly at his court-martial whether he had hit, kicked or kneed any prisoners last year at a Marine detention facility, Sgt. Gary Pittman had a consistent reply: ''Negative, sir.'' Speaking calmly and wearing a uniform loaded with military ribbons, Pittman described a prison camp run in a professional manner not the ''terrordome'' jailhouse where prisoners were beaten without provocation, as other Marines have testified. Pittman recalled one occasion where he used force at the detention facility known as Camp Whitehorse, when one detainee grabbed the Marine's knife. Pittman struck the forearm of the detainee, who he said arrived at the camp covered in blood. Another detainee grabbed Pittman by the leg and threw the Marine on his back, he said. ''I never punched an EPW (enemy prisoner of war),'' Pittman said. ''Even the ones that attacked me. I never punched them. I just used minimum force.'' The 40-year-old federal prison officer is charged with assault and dereliction of duty in the first court-martial known to arise from the death of a prisoner in Iraq. If convicted, he could face up to two years in military prison. |
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