This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22749745
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning to go on trial | Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning to go on trial |
(35 minutes later) | |
The US Army private accused of leaking large numbers of classified documents to Wikileaks is due to face court martial in Fort Meade, Maryland. | |
Pte Bradley Manning allegedly sent 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq to Wikileaks in 2009 and 2010. | Pte Bradley Manning allegedly sent 250,000 diplomatic cables and 500,000 battlefield reports from Afghanistan and Iraq to Wikileaks in 2009 and 2010. |
He has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him but not to the most serious charge of aiding the enemy. | He has pleaded guilty to 10 of the 22 charges against him but not to the most serious charge of aiding the enemy. |
It is considered the largest-ever leak of secret US government documents. | It is considered the largest-ever leak of secret US government documents. |
If found guilty of the more serious charges, the 25-year-old faces a maximum term of 154 years in jail. | If found guilty of the more serious charges, the 25-year-old faces a maximum term of 154 years in jail. |
Pte Manning, who was arrested in May 2010 while serving in Iraq, has not denied leaking the documents. | Pte Manning, who was arrested in May 2010 while serving in Iraq, has not denied leaking the documents. |
He told a pre-trial hearing in February he divulged the documents to spark a public debate on the role of the US military and foreign policy. | He told a pre-trial hearing in February he divulged the documents to spark a public debate on the role of the US military and foreign policy. |
However, prosecutors arguing on behalf of the US government say the leaks damaged national security and endangered American lives. | However, prosecutors arguing on behalf of the US government say the leaks damaged national security and endangered American lives. |
One of the leaked videos shows graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer. | One of the leaked videos shows graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer. |
"The most alarming aspect of the video to me was the seemingly delightful bloodlust the aerial weapons team happened to have," he said at the pre-trial hearing, comparing the troops to children "torturing ants with a magnifying glass". | "The most alarming aspect of the video to me was the seemingly delightful bloodlust the aerial weapons team happened to have," he said at the pre-trial hearing, comparing the troops to children "torturing ants with a magnifying glass". |
Dozens of witnesses are expected to testify at the trial. | Dozens of witnesses are expected to testify at the trial. |
He will get a 112-day reduction in any jail sentence he receives after a judge ruled he had suffered unduly harsh treatment during his nine-month detention after his arrest in 2010. | He will get a 112-day reduction in any jail sentence he receives after a judge ruled he had suffered unduly harsh treatment during his nine-month detention after his arrest in 2010. |
Pte Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, thanked supporters who had rallied outside Fort Meade ahead of his court martial. | Pte Manning's lawyer, David Coombs, thanked supporters who had rallied outside Fort Meade ahead of his court martial. |