06 February 2005	Sunday	26 Zilhaj 1425

FORT HOOD, Feb 5: A US soldier who stomped on hooded Iraqi prisoners was sentenced to six months behind bars on Friday, becoming the sixth person imprisoned in connection with abuses at Iraq's Abu Ghraib prison.

Sergeant Javal Davis, 27, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to stomping on the fingers and toes of seven bound and hooded inmates in Nov 2003.

"I am deeply sorry," Sgt Davis told the nine-person military jury on Thursday night. "I'm not the perfect soldier."

The prosecutor, Major Michael Holley, called the sergeant's actions "brutal and cowardly" and said he had lied about the incident.

The military jury deliberated nearly six hours before handing down the prison sentence. Sgt Davis was also given a dishonourable discharge and had his rank dropped to the lowest pay grade. Under the plea deal, he had faced up to 18 months in prison.

Sgt Davis showed no emotion upon hearing the sentence, but his relatives wept afterward. His mother, Michelle Carpenter Davis, had cried while speaking about her son during the three days of sentencing testimony.-Reuters