Accused soldier appears in court

FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Army Reserve Private First Class Lynndie England, charged with abusing Iraqis at the Abu Ghraib prison, was read her rights in court yesterday, and a military judge set an Aug. 3 hearing to decide whether she should face trial.

England answered ''Yes, ma'am" when the presiding judge, Colonel Denise Arn, asked whether she understood her rights and ''No, ma'am" when she was asked whether she had any questions.

Arn also granted a request by lawyer Rick Hernandez to have Army Captain John Crisp join England's defense team. Crisp monitored the hearing by telephone from Fort Jackson, S.C., but did not speak.

England, 21, of Fort Ashby, W.Va., is charged with abusing prisoners, disobeying an order, and indecent acts. Six charges added last week stem from ''the creation and possession of sexually explicit photographs." Army officials have said the latest photographs do not involve Iraqi prisoners.

The maximum total sentence is 38 years in prison.

Photos taken at the Abu Ghraib prison that were made public in May show the Army reservist smiling and pointing at naked detainees, giving a thumbs-up, and in one shot, holding a detainee on a dog leash.

The photos caused widespread outrage, particularly among Arabs. But England's lawyers have said she was following orders. Defense lawyers have said their possible witnesses would include Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, along with top generals.

The Article 32 hearing will determine whether England faces a court martial, at which witnesses are to be called and evidence presented.

England, a support specialist, is one of six soldiers charged in the Abu Ghraib scandal. A seventh, Specialist Jeremy C. Sivits, pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to a year in prison. All seven soldiers are from the 372d Military Police Company, an Army Reserve unit from Cresaptown, Md.

Specialist Charles A. Graner Jr., 35, a soldier in England's unit, also has been charged with abuses and was involved in a romantic relationship with England; he faces adultery charges for allegedly having sex with England in October.

She was visibly pregnant in court yesterday, and her lawyers have said the child is Graner's.

Since being brought back to the United States, England has been assigned to a desk job at a military police brigade office at Fort Bragg.