Asked repeatedly at his court-martial whether he had hit, kicked or kneed any prisoners last year at a Marine detention facility, Sgt. Gary Pittman had a consistent reply: "Negative, sir."

Speaking calmly and wearing a uniform loaded with military ribbons, Pittman described a prison camp run in a professional manner - not the "terrordome" jailhouse where prisoners were beaten without provocation, as other Marines have testified.

Pittman recalled one occasion where he used force at the detention facility known as Camp Whitehorse, when one detainee grabbed the Marine's knife. Pittman struck the forearm of the detainee, who he said arrived at the camp covered in blood.

Another detainee grabbed Pittman by the leg and threw the Marine on his back, he said.

"I never punched an EPW (enemy prisoner of war)," Pittman said. "Even the ones that attacked me. I never punched them. I just used minimum force."

The 40-year-old federal prison guard is charged with assault and dereliction of duty in the first court-martial known to arise from the death of a prisoner in Iraq. If convicted, he could face up to two years in military prison.

Pfc. William Roy testified last week that he and Pittman beat Iraqi Nagem Hatab because they believed he had sold a rifle taken in the ambush of a U.S. Army convoy that left 11 soldiers dead and led to the capture of Pfc. Jessica Lynch among others.

Hatab was found dead on June 6, 2003, after lying naked for hours in a dusty yard at the camp, two days after his arrival. An autopsy by an Army pathologist showed he had six broken ribs and several deep bruises, as well as a broken bone in his throat that apparently caused him to suffocate.

Pittman said he and Roy had an "outstanding relationship." Asked why Roy would make the allegations against him, Pittman replied, "to try to take the heat off of him, I guess. He threw it at me."

But Pittman said neither he nor Roy laid a hand on Hatab. In fact, Pittman said that while he was guarding the Iraqi, the Marine was suffering from a bout of diarrhea and a 108 degree fever.

Prosecutor Maj. Leon Francis repeatedly asked Pittman how he could have performed his duties with such a high fever. The sergeant replied that he didn't feel well, but was able to complete his shift.

The defense rested Wednesday. Closing arguments will be made Thursday before the case goes to a panel of nine Marine officers.

Earlier Wednesday, Lance Cpl. John Chang said he never witnessed Pittman or Roy strike Hatab while the three Marines guarded him on two successive nights. Chang also testified that it became apparent Hatab was not well, and was moaning and groaning. He said Pittman appeared to be ill as well.

On cross-examination, Chang acknowledged he told Navy criminal investigators two weeks after Hatab's death that Roy kicked the Iraqi "like a soccer ball." He also told military investigators that he saw both Roy and Pittman punch enemy prisoners of war.

The military judge Col. Robert Chester denied a defense request to introduce a photo of Marine guards and their Iraqi prisoners smiling and waving at the camera. The judge ruled the photo was irrelevant and could prejudice the jury.

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