Lynndie England resorts to the "Colin Powell Defense"

England had originally pleaded guilty to seven counts of abuse during a trial in May. Judge Pohl negated the plea deal however after hearing evidence suggesting that she thought she was following orders from a superior and thus may not have known she was acting wrongly.

Her defense team now argues England was innocent and that she was partially mentally incapacitated.

England's mental agility and compliance to authority was at issue as Pohl decided that he would allow a statement she made to military authorities in January 2004 soon after they learned of the abuses.

Pohl asked how England was able to finish high school and function in society if she could not understand that she could decline to talk to investigators.

"By turning to and leaning on authority figures around her," Crisp responded.

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