The US military has started a hearing to determine whether Lynndie England should be court-martialed for her actions at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.

The hearing, the military form of a grand jury in civilian court, is designed to gather evidence to decide if 21-year-old England will be court-martialed. The hearing is open and the accused is allowed to be present.

The pregnant female soldier is charged with 13 counts of abusing detainees and six counts stemming from possession of sexually explicit photos, and is facing up to 38 years in prison.

The proceeding is likely to last several days and will call numerous witnesses, including army investigators and soldiers who served with England in the 372nd Military Police Company at Abu Ghraib prison.

The hearing could result in a non-judicial punishment, the dismissal of all charges or a referral to a court-martial.

(CRI August 4, 2004)