Oh, he didn't mean to hurt him....

The first American civilian, former CIA contractor, David Passaro, 40, (above) is standing trial on charges of mistreating an Afghan detainee.

The detainee, Abdul Wali, died after being beaten over a period of 48 hours during questioning about rocket attacks on a remote base where Passaro was stationed in 2003 along with U.S. and Afghan troops. Passaro is not being charged with murder.

Despite the fact that the CIA contractor, according to federal prosecutors, kicked Wali hard enough to lift him off the ground, while the prisoner's head was covered with an empty sandbag and his hands were bound--in addition to beating him with the flashlight--Passaro's defence attorney still contends he didn't mean to hurt the prisoner.

In closing arguments, the government said David Passaro beat detainee Abdul Wali with a flashlight “to inflict pain” and make him talk. Wali later died. Passaro's lawyer countered that the civilian contractor had only tapped the detainee and did not intend to hurt him. [emphasis mine]

Wow. I wonder what would have happened had they really intended to hurt him?

Complete story here. And more detail in Salon here (but requires subscription or obligatory ad).