CIA worker guilty of Afghan abuse

Mr Passaro beat the prisoner with a metal torch

A former CIA contractor has been found guilty of assaulting an Afghan prisoner, Abdul Wali, who later died.

David Passaro, 40, is the first US civilian to be charged with abusing a prisoner since the Iraq and Afghanistan wars began.

He was convicted of three counts of simple assault and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, but was not charged over Mr Wali's death.

Passaro faces up to 11-and-a-half years in jail.

He was found guilty in federal court in North Carolina of beating Mr Wali with a metal torch during questioning about rocket attacks on a US military base in June 2003.

Prosecutors said Passaro beat the prisoner so severely that he begged to be shot to end his pain. He died two days after the interrogation.

Passaro is said to have worked at the US military base in the north of Afghanistan, which was subject to frequent rocket attacks. Mr Wali was suspected of being involved in the attacks.

Another trial to determine the length of Passaro's sentence is expected in the coming weeks.