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Wikileaks source Manning faces sentencing hearing Wikileaks source Bradley Manning sentencing hearing begins
(about 3 hours later)
A sentencing hearing for US Army Private Bradley Manning is due to begin at a military court in Maryland. A sentencing hearing for US Army Private Bradley Manning has begun at a military court in Maryland.
On Tuesday, he was found guilty of 20 charges, including espionage and theft, but acquitted of aiding the enemy.On Tuesday, he was found guilty of 20 charges, including espionage and theft, but acquitted of aiding the enemy.
The sentencing procedure may be lengthy, with both the prosecution and defence allowed to call witnesses. Pte Manning faces up to 136 years in jail. The sentencing procedure could take weeks, with both the prosecution and defence allowed to call witnesses. Pte Manning faces up to 136 years in jail.
He has admitted passing hundreds of thousands of battlefield reports and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks. He had admitted passing hundreds of thousands of battlefield reports and diplomatic cables to Wikileaks.
The website's founder Julian Assange said Pte Manning's conviction of spying set a "dangerous precedent", accusing the US authorities of "national security extremism".The website's founder Julian Assange said Pte Manning's conviction of spying set a "dangerous precedent", accusing the US authorities of "national security extremism".
Mr Assange described the soldier as the most important journalistic source the world has ever seen, and said the military court's verdict had to be overturned.Mr Assange described the soldier as the most important journalistic source the world has ever seen, and said the military court's verdict had to be overturned.
MotivesMotives
Pte Manning appeared not to react as Judge Colonel Denise Lind read out the verdicts on Tuesday, but his defence lawyer, David Coombs, smiled faintly as he was found not guilty of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.Pte Manning appeared not to react as Judge Colonel Denise Lind read out the verdicts on Tuesday, but his defence lawyer, David Coombs, smiled faintly as he was found not guilty of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy.
"We won the battle, now we need to go win the war," Mr Coombs said of the sentencing phase. "Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire.""We won the battle, now we need to go win the war," Mr Coombs said of the sentencing phase. "Today is a good day, but Bradley is by no means out of the fire."
During the trial the judge stopped both sides from presenting evidence about whether the leaks had endangered national security or US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the prosecution and defence will be able to bring that up at the sentencing hearing.During the trial the judge stopped both sides from presenting evidence about whether the leaks had endangered national security or US troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the prosecution and defence will be able to bring that up at the sentencing hearing.
The judge also restricted evidence about Pte Manning's motives. At a pre-trial hearing, he testified that he had leaked the material to expose the "bloodlust" of US forces and the country's diplomatic deceitfulness. He did not believe his actions would harm the country.The judge also restricted evidence about Pte Manning's motives. At a pre-trial hearing, he testified that he had leaked the material to expose the "bloodlust" of US forces and the country's diplomatic deceitfulness. He did not believe his actions would harm the country.
More than 20 witnesses are expected to be called for the sentencing hearing and it could take weeks.More than 20 witnesses are expected to be called for the sentencing hearing and it could take weeks.
Pte Manning faces a maximum sentence of 136 years in prison, although legal experts say the actual term is likely to be much shorter.Pte Manning faces a maximum sentence of 136 years in prison, although legal experts say the actual term is likely to be much shorter.
Eugene Fidell, who teaches military law at Yale Law School, told the New York Times that he expected the judge would collapse some of the charges so Pte Manning did not "get punished twice for the same underlying conduct".Eugene Fidell, who teaches military law at Yale Law School, told the New York Times that he expected the judge would collapse some of the charges so Pte Manning did not "get punished twice for the same underlying conduct".
But Lisa Windsor, a retired US Army colonel and former judge advocate, told the Associated Press that he was still likely "going to be in jail for a very long time".But Lisa Windsor, a retired US Army colonel and former judge advocate, told the Associated Press that he was still likely "going to be in jail for a very long time".
'Justice served''Justice served'
During the court martial, prosecutors said Pte Manning systematically harvested hundreds of thousands of classified documents in order to gain notoriety.During the court martial, prosecutors said Pte Manning systematically harvested hundreds of thousands of classified documents in order to gain notoriety.
With his training as an intelligence analyst, Pte Manning should have known the leaked documents would become available to al-Qaeda operatives, they argued.With his training as an intelligence analyst, Pte Manning should have known the leaked documents would become available to al-Qaeda operatives, they argued.
The defence characterised him as a naive young soldier who had become disillusioned during his time in Iraq.The defence characterised him as a naive young soldier who had become disillusioned during his time in Iraq.
His actions, Mr Coombs argued, were those of a whistle-blower.His actions, Mr Coombs argued, were those of a whistle-blower.
The Democratic and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee said "justice has been served", in a joint statement after the ruling.The Democratic and Republican leaders of the US House of Representatives intelligence committee said "justice has been served", in a joint statement after the ruling.
Among the items sent to Wikileaks by Pte Manning was graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer.Among the items sent to Wikileaks by Pte Manning was graphic footage of an Apache helicopter attack in 2007 that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, including a Reuters photographer.
The documents also included 470,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports and 250,000 secure state department cables between Washington and embassies around the world.The documents also included 470,000 Iraq and Afghanistan battlefield reports and 250,000 secure state department cables between Washington and embassies around the world.
Pte Manning, an intelligence analyst, was arrested in Iraq in May 2010. He spent weeks in a cell at Camp Arifjan, a US Army installation in Kuwait, before being transferred to the US.Pte Manning, an intelligence analyst, was arrested in Iraq in May 2010. He spent weeks in a cell at Camp Arifjan, a US Army installation in Kuwait, before being transferred to the US.