EXCESSIVE

Judge: Manning Punishment Illegal

Due to 'illegal pretrial punishment.'

Military Judge Col. Denise Lind ruled Tuesday to reduce the potential sentence of Bradley Manning, an Army private accused of releasing classified documents to the infamous WikiLeaks website. Lind's ruling stems from her belief that the former soldier was subjected to "illegal pretrial punishment" during his nine months of confinement. She called Manning's treatment—which consisted of solitary confinement in a windowless cell, often without clothing, for 23 hours a day—"excessive." The 25-year-old is to face 22 charges when his trial begins March 6. Due to Tuesday's ruling, if he is given a prison sentence he will receive 112 days off of whatever it is.