Bradley Manning court martial hearing moves forward, prosecution not seeking death penalty
A US Army analyst suspected of leaking government secrets will face a military court on 16 December, his lawyer says.
Bradley Manning faces charges of obtaining and distributing government secrets – which he allegedly leaked to the anti-secrecy website Wikileaks.
The Article 32 hearing will determine whether Manning is to stand trial and is the first opportunity for his defence team to present their case.
Proceedings are expected to last around five days, after which recommendations will be made to a military general, who will decide whether to proceed to a full trial, according to his lawyer, David Coombs.
Manning has also been charged with “aiding the enemy”, a charge that could carry the death penalty. However, reports say prosecutors will only seek a prison sentence.
The conditions of Mr Manning’s confinement since the time of his arrest have been the subject of criticism.
