WASHINGTON (AFP) - The trial of a former CIA contractor accused of beating a terror suspect in Afghanistan so severely that he later died opened in a North Carolina court.

The CIA symbol is shown on the floor of its headquarters in Langley, Virginia. The trial of a former CIA contractor accused of beating a terror suspect in Afghanistan so severely that he later died opened in a North Carolina court.[AFP]

David Passaro, 40, a former medical contractor for the CIA, is accused in the Raleigh, North Carolina federal trial of violently striking Abdul Wali during two days of interrogation in June 2003.

The former member of the US military's special forces is the first civilian to be charged with mistreating inmates during the US "war on terror."

Wali died in his prison cell three days after he arrived at the Asadabad center, located at the site of a former Soviet military base near the Pakistani border.

The base came under several rocket attacks during Passaro's stay there and Wali was accused of taking part in the assault. According to prosecutors, Wali turned himself in at the base on June 18 and died on June 21 after undergoing interrogation and beatings.

Passaro has been charged with beating the inmate so badly that he later died -- but not with murder or manslaughter. He has pleaded not guilty and faces up to 40 years in jail if convicted.

His defense has argued that Passaro was following orders from above and has called on former CIA chief George Tenet to testify on his behalf, The Fayetteville Observer reported.

Passaro will also ask the North Carolina jury to decide whether his actions were criminal or authorized by President George W. Bush administration's policy on interrogation tactics for terror suspects, the News and Observer in Raleigh, North Carolina reported.

It was unclear if CIA agents would be allowed to testify in a civilian trial concerning the agency's interrogation methods.