Judge Rules Bradley Manning Illegally Treated, But Upholds Charges

Grants mere 112 days credit for 'torture'
- Beth Brogan, staff writer
A military judge on Tuesday refused to dismiss charges against whistleblower Bradley Manning, instead granting him a mere 112 days credit off any eventual sentence after finding he endured unlawful pretrial punishment during his more than three years in custody.

(Photo: Associated Press) "She confirmed that Bradley was mistreated, and vindicated the massive protest effect that was required to stop the Marines at Quantico from torturing Bradley," Jeff Peterson of the Bradley Manning Support Network said in a release. "Yet 112 days is not nearly enough to hold the military accountable for their actions."

Manning, 25, is accused of handing over about 250,000 diplomatic cables and war logs from Afghanistan and Iraq to WikiLeaks, including video of a US military helicopter killing a dozen civilians.

For nine months he was held in solitary confinement in the brig, against the recommendations of brig psychiatrists.

The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture called the conditions Manning was held under "cruel, inhuman and degrading."

Manning faces court martial—scheduled to begin in March— and is charged with 22 counts including aiding the enemy. He could be sentenced to life in prison.
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