The testimony of a defense witness may hurt Army Specialist Charles Graner's defense that he was just following orders as testimony continued today in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse case.

Master Sergeant Brian Lipinski admitted under cross examination by prosecutors that Graner often disregarded orders by altering his uniform, wearing his hair too long and continuing his relationship with Lynddie England who he was repeatedly told to stay away from.

This damages Graner's contention that he was 'just following orders' when he committed acts of abuse to inmates at Abu Ghraib prison that horrified the world last year after videotapes and photographs were released.

Lipinski also testified that Graner lied about the cause of a detainee's injury in November 2003. He told his superiors that the man tripped on a pile of rubble when in actuality, Lipinski testified that Granger had shoved the man against a wall so hard that it left a smear of blood on the wall.

The defense had called Lipinski to show that officers had showered Graner with praise for his treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib.

There is a striking paradox in the Graner trial. It is difficult for any American to accept the defense 'we were just following orders' since it was used unsuccessfully by Nazis in reference to the Holocaust after World War II. However, it is also difficult to believe that Graner's superiors had no knowledge of what was going on at Abu Ghraib and were not involved in any way in the planning and/or execution of the policy that led to the abuses that went on.

Graner faces up to 17 1/2 years in a military prison if convicted on all the charges facing him. Testimony for the defense is expected to continue on Thursday.