Ex-colleagues testify against Graner

Spc. Charles Graner Jr. is the first soldier accused in the scandal to go on trial. Three guards from the 372nd Military Police Company have pleaded guilty to abusing detainees in late 2003.

Their plea deals required them to take the stand as prosecution witnesses against Graner, a 36-year-old Army reservist charged with conspiracy to maltreat Iraqi detainees, assault, dereliction of duty and committing indecent acts.

One witness, Pvt. Jeremy Sivits, told the jury that Graner knocked an Iraqi inmate unconscious with a punch in the head and that he laughed while forcing prisoners to pose naked.

Asked how hard Graner hit the prisoner on a scale of one to 10, Sivits said, "Seven or eight. Obviously he had to hit him pretty hard to knock him out."

Army prosecutors were expected to wrap up their case Tuesday with videotaped testimony from two former Iraqi detainees who were abused. A third may also present recorded testimony.

Capt. Chuck Neill, a spokesman for prosecutors, said the Abu Ghraib detainees recorded their depositions in December.