Court-martial Of Us Marine Accused Of Assaulting Iraqi Prisoner Begins

SAN DIEGO, California, Aug 23 (AFP) - A US military tribunal Monday began hearing the court-martial of a US Marine reservist accused of assaulting an Iraqi prisoner who later died.
The court-martial for Sergeant Gary Pittman, 40, who is charged with assault and dereliction of duty in the death of Nagem Sadoon Hatab, got underway at the Camp Pendleton Marine base near San Diego.
Hatab, 52, was found dead on June 6, 2003 at Camp Whitehorse, a military base that stood outside the Iraqi city of Nasiriyah during the first stages of the US occupation of that country.
Prosecutors told a military judge that Pittman failed to tell his superiors of Hatab's failing health.
They also alleged that the victim had stomach wounds that could have been caused by a kick, punch or a knee being forced into his stomach.
The defence however contends that Hatab could have died from an asthma attack or other natural causes. According to an autopsy report, the victim died from a crushed throat.
The trial at Camp Pendleton is expected to last about three weeks, a base official said.
Pittman, a prison guard from New York, faces three years in a military prison if convicted of the offences.