Verdict in Manning trial to be read Tuesday

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

After spending three years in custody, the man accused of the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history will learn Tuesday whether he has been found guilty of aiding the enemy.

A verdict in the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning has been reached, and will be announced Tuesday at 1 p.m. ET, according to a spokeswoman for the military district of Washington.

Manning, among other counts, is charged with aiding the enemy, which carries a potential life prison sentence. He has pleaded guilty to nearly a dozen lesser charges that carry a sentence of up to 20 years behind bars.

Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/29/justice/manning-court-martial/index.html

[heaven05]

1. formality

they're going to hand him his ass, guaranteed. And I'm NOT saying he deserves any more punishment than he has already endured.

[msanthrope]

2. I hope he stays in medium security, as opposed to maximum security that

the charges would net him.

[pipoman]

4. Yep,

my very limited experience with military courts, puts their openness somewhere between federal courts and fisa...

[snot]

3. Can anyone inform us about the possibilities for appeal?

Among other things, can it ever get outside the military court system?

[pipoman]

5. I don't think so..

unless maybe there were some egregious violation of the ucmj

[brooklynite]

6. I think the answer is "no"

Civilian Courts don't have review over Military trials, and if they did, I can't imagine legal grounds for an appeal.

[Crabby Appleton]

8. Yes with some qualification

The commander of the unit holding the court martial reviews the findings and can change verdicts and penalties then the US Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces can review issues of law raised by the defense. This court is not composed of military judges, retired military with 20 or more years of service can't serve as judge on this court. Any finding of the Armed Forces Appeals Court can be appealed to the uS Supreme Court.

The military judge will very likely throw the book at Manning.

[snot]

11. Thank you. It does look like that's what the trial judge will do.

I'm hoping she's done something stupid by allowing the government to change its charges so late in the trial, without giving Manning a chance to address the new charges.

[Angleae]

12. It can if it goes to SCOTUS.

Otherwise it's the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. However, those judges are civilian, not military.

[hrmjustin]

7. I hope they can be merciful. There is no reason they can not show mercy.

I hope for the best for him.

[LiberalLovinLug]

9. I wish him luck

He should be given the Medal of Freedom for sparking the Arab Spring and for uncovering war crimes in Iraq.

[PSPS]

10. Oh boy. We're going to hear the kangaroo speak.