Last updated: December 26, 2014


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A look at Bradley Manning's trial

Bradley Manning WikiLeaks supporters

Supporters of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning flash peace signs outside a courthouse in Fort Meade. Picture: AP Source: AP

Bradley Manning verdict Wikileaks

In this courtroom sketch, Bradley Manning, third from left, stands with lead defence attorney David Coombs, centre, and his defence team as Army Col. Denise Lind reads her verdict. Picture: AP Source: AP

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Bradley Manning WikiLeaks

Army Pfc. Bradley Manning is escorted out of a courthouse in Fort Meade. Picture: AP Source: AP

HERE are the key elements of Bradley Manning's case:

A judge convicted Manning of 20 counts, including six Espionage Act violations and theft and computer fraud. He was acquitted of the most serious charge of aiding the enemy, which carries a possible life sentence.

The 25-year-old leaked more than 700,000 classified Iraq and Afghanistan war logs and diplomatic cables in 2010 while working as an intelligence analyst in Baghdad. Manning also leaked a 2007 video clip of a US helicopter crew killing at least nine men, including a Reuters news photographer and his driver. The Pentagon concluded the troops acted appropriately, having mistaken the camera equipment for weapons.

Government witnesses said the leaks endangered people who were named as information sources, prompting the State Department to help some of them move for their safety. Several ambassadors were recalled, expelled or reassigned because of embarrassing disclosures.
Prosecutors showed that al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula used material from the helicopter attack in a propaganda video. Osama bin Laden obtained, and presumably read, some of the leaked documents, the evidence showed.

The defence focused on Manning's inner turmoil over his gender identity and isolation in a military that at the time barred homosexuals from serving openly. Mental health experts testified that stress, combined with narcissistic tendencies and youthful idealism, caused Manning to believe he could change the way war was perceived by leaking classified information.
Defence lawyer David Coombs also presented evidence that Manning's unit needed intelligence analysts so badly that a supervisor didn't report to commanders his concerns that Manning's mental health was deteriorating.

Manning has said he leaked the material to expose the US military's "bloodlust" and disregard for human life, and what he considered US diplomatic duplicity. He said he chose information he believed would not the harm the US, and he wanted to start a debate on military and foreign policy.
In a courtroom statement August 14, Manning apologised for causing harm to people and the country, but not for revealing US secrets. "When I made these decisions, I believed I was going to help people, not hurt people," he said.

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison. The judge did not offer any explanation for the sentence.
Manning faced up to 90 years in prison, but the prosecution asked the judge to sentence him to only 60. Prosecutors did not address why they did not seek the maximum punishment, but the government was unable to show that Manning knew the documents would get to al-Qaeda.
The soldier's defence lawyer suggested any prison term shouldn't exceed 25 years because that is when the classification of some documents Manning leaked will expire.

Under military law, the verdict and sentence must be reviewed - and may be reduced - by the commander of the Military District of Washington. If the commander approves a sentence that includes a bad-conduct discharge, a dishonourable discharge or confinement for a year or more, the case will be automatically reviewed by the Army Court of Criminal Appeals. Further appeals can be made to the military's highest court, the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and the US Supreme Court.

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