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Manning Sees Potential Sentence Reduced over Unlawful Treatment

HeadlineJan 09, 2013

Alleged U.S. Army whistleblower Bradley Manning has had his potential sentence reduced should he be convicted for the leaking of classified documents to WikiLeaks. On Tuesday, the judge overseeing Manning’s pretrial hearing said Manning is entitled to 112 days less in prison due to the unlawful conditions of his imprisonment at the Marines Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia. Manning’s ordeal included being held in a six-by-eight-foot cell for at least 23 hours a day and being banned from lying down or even leaning against the wall unless he was sleeping. His attorney had argued his imprisonment was so harsh and inhumane that either his charges should be dropped or he should be given 10 times credit for the nine months he spent there in any sentence he may receive. In her ruling, Judge Denise Lind agreed with the allegations of unlawful abuse, but said Manning will only get one-to-one credit in the reduction of any sentence. In a statement, the Bradley Manning Support Network said: “[The ruling] confirms that Bradley was mistreated, and vindicates the massive protest effect that was required to stop the Marines at Quantico from torturing him. Yet, 112 days is not nearly enough to hold the military accountable for their actions.”

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