OSNABRUECK, Germany, Feb 21 (AFP) - The court martial of three British soldiers accused of abusing Iraqi prisoners neared its end Monday as the judge began summing up the case.
The soldiers were accused of mistreating captured Iraqi looters at a humanitarian aid depot known as Camp Bread Basket, in southern Iraq, in May 2003.
The court at a British army barracks in Germany has been shown photographs of the alleged abuse taken by soldiers at the camp.
The most senior soldier standing trial, Corporal Daniel Kenyon, 33, faced several charges including failing to report his men for their alleged involvement in the abuse and aiding and abetting soldiers -- who have never been identified -- to force two naked Iraqis to simulate sex acts.
Lance Corporal Mark Cooley, 25, was charged with disgraceful conduct of a cruel kind after he was photographed driving a forklift truck with a prisoner suspended from the prongs.
Cooley told the court that he merely wanted to move the man out of the sun.
He also faced a charge of prejudicing good order and military discipline after he was photographed simulating a punch on an Iraqi man.
Both Kenyon and Cooley denied all the charges.
Lance Corporal Darren Larkin, 30, pleaded guilty to assault after he was pictured standing on an Iraqi and faced a possible six-month prison sentence.
Another charge of aiding and abetting unidentified soldiers to force the prisoners to strip was dropped. Cooley was also cleared of simulating a kick on a prisoner.
The photographs that formed the bulk of evidence in the case came to light after another soldier, Fusilier Gary Bartlam, took film to be developed in his home town of Tamworth in central England.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair described the photographs as "shocking".
The panel of seven officers forming the jury have heard that the offences at the sprawling depot occurred after the soldiers were given orders to round up looters stealing food in the chaotic weeks following the fall of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
Verdicts were expected later this week.
02/21/2005 14:16 GMT - AFP