WIS News 10 - Columbia, South Carolina | Witness: CIA contractor "full of rage" with Afghan prisoner

Witness: CIA contractor "full of rage" with Afghan prisoner

(Raleigh, NC-AP) August 8, 2006 - A former CIA contractor accused of beating an Afghan prisoner was aggressive and "full of rage."

That's according to testimony Tuesday in the federal trial of former CIA contractor David Passaro. He's been charged with four counts of assault for allegedly beating Abdul Wali, who later died.

Wali was being questioned about rocket attacks on a remote base housing US and Afghan troops in June 2003.

Hyder Akbar, the son of Kunar provincial governor Fazel Akbar, testified Tuesday that Wali insisted he was innocent, Akbar says he accompanied Wali to the American base to clear his name.

Akbar testified that Passaro was "very aggressive" toward Wali. Then, four days later, Passaro called Akbar to tell him to pick up Wali's body.

Passaro is the first American civilian charged with mistreating a detainee during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

If convicted, the 40-year-old from Lillington faces up to 40 years in prison.

Posted 8:35pm by Chantelle Janelle