FORT BRAGG, North Carolina, Aug 31 (AFP) - A US Army judge ruled Tuesday that a special military hearing for an American soldier accused of abusing Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison will not seek testimony from ex-prisoners as it would be too difficult to arrange.
Judge Colonel Denise Arn made the decision at a hearing for Private Lynndie England, 21, known around the world from a photograph showing her holding a leash attached to the neck of a naked inmate at Abu Ghraib, after prosecutors said it could take days to track ex-inmates.
"I'm not convinced they are reasonably available," Arn said after prosecutors cited "logistical hurdles" to tracking down former detainees.
Numerous Iraqi inmates, often hooded, were photographed in naked pyramids or cowering before unmuzzled army dogs, and in one instance soldiers were pictured posing beside an inmate who died in a shower block inside the jail, in photos leaked to the media earlier this year.
Arn had asked prosecutors to see if any inmates could be traced following a request from England's lawyers.
"It is possible it can be done, but it can't be done quick. No one travels anywhere in Iraq without a convoy" involving military escorts, Captain John Benson told Arn.
"There are logistical hurdles. We would have to send soldiers to collect the detainees," Benson said.
Arn also knocked down a request to call Brigadier General Janis Karpinski, who had oversight over military police guards at Abu Ghraib which at one point housed up to 7,000 prisoners.
"I don't see the necessity of hearing from this witness," Arn said.
The hearing has recessed until 2:00 pm (1800 GMT) pending a defense request to hear from three further witnesses. The hearing will decide if England should face a court martial on abuse charges.