Harman Sentencing and Apology

Spc. Sabrina Harman arrives at the courthouse, in Fort Hood, Texas. Harman, 27, was found guilty late Monday on six of the seven charges she faced for her role in the mistreatment of Iraqi inmates at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003. (AP Photo/ Jerry Larson)

By T.A. BADGER Associated Press Writer

FORT HOOD, Texas May 17, 2005 — Army Spc. Sabrina Harman stood before the jury in the sentencing phase of her court-martial Tuesday and tearfully apologized for mistreating Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

"As a soldier I failed in my duties and in my mission," Harman said, her voice cracking. "Not only did I let down the people in Iraq, I let down every single soldier that serves today."

...Much of the defense testimony during sentencing focused on her behavior while at the Iraqi city of Hillah, where the 372nd Military Police Company was based for several months before moving to Abu Ghraib.

Two Iraqi prisoners at Abu Ghraib, whose testimony was read into the record, said Harman's gentle treatment was unique among the guards in the part of the prison reserved mostly for detainees believed to have intelligence value.