U.S. Soldier Cleared Of Afghan Abuse Charges

4 November 2005 -- A U.S. military jury has cleared an Army sergeant of all charges that he abused a detainee at a U.S. detention facility in Afghanistan.

Sergeant Duane M. Grubb is the third soldier from this company to be acquitted on charges of striking and abusing detainees in Bagram, Afghanistan.

The eight-man jury deliberated today for about 30 minutes before reaching their decision.

Grubb's lawyer, Captain Robert Fellrath, said the testimony by the government's sole eyewitness, former Specialist Jeremy Callaway, contradicted his own testimony in other cases. He also asked the jury to question why Callaway was the only person to see the abuse take place.

(AP)