WikiLeaks Alleged Leaker Bradley Manning Faces Delayed Trial

Bradley Manning, the 25-year-old intelligence analyst accused of handing over classified data to WikiLeaks and threatening national security, has had his trial delayed.

Manning is facing 22 charges in total, including aiding the enemy, which could land him with a life sentence with no hope of parole. That charge alleges that in handing information over to WikiLeaks, Manning made it available to al-Qaida as well.

He was supposed to have his trial heard in March, but that has now been pushed back to 3 June at the earliest, to give time for legal teams to look through the classified information. Manning was arrested back in 2010, whilst he was working on military intelligence in Iraq.

WikiLeaks wars

He did receive some positive news on Tuesday, when the judge overseeing the case gave him a 112-day reduction in any eventual sentence, because of his treatment in military detention for nine months at Quantico marine base in Virginia.

Reports indicated he was held in a windowless room for 23 hours a day and kept on constant suicide watch. It is also believed his clothes were even taken from him on a number of occasions.

The defence team hoped all 22 charges would be thrown out as a result of a violation of Article 13 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which protects prisoners awaiting trial because of the principle of being innocent until proven guilty, according to the Guardian.

But the judge said Manning’s treatment was not harsh enough to have the whole case thrown out.

Lawyers on the prosecuting side are attempting to find solid links between Manning and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

Assange himself remains at the Ecuadorian embassy in London,  having been granted asylum in the South American country. If he leaves the embassy, he faces arrest and could be extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on claims of sexual assault.

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