Bradley Manning sentenced to 35 years in prison

[Chippiewill]

A US military judge has sentenced Army Pfc. Bradley Manning to 35 years in prison. Manning faced up to 90 years behind bars, while prosecutors sought to put the whistleblower away for a minimum of six decades.

Manning will be credited with the 1,294 days he spent in pre-trial confinement plus an additional 112 days. He was also dishonorably discharged, saw his rank reduced to private from private first class and was forced to forfeit all pay and benefits. No additional fine, however, was levied against him. Manning will have to serve a third of his sentence before he is eligible for parole.

Col. Denise Lind, who on Tuesday began her deliberations in the court-martial case, announced the sentence shortly after 10am local time (14:00 GMT). Lind read out the sentence succinctly and provided no other statement as a gaggle of journalist’s waited in anticipation. Flanked by his lawyers, Manning, 25, stood at attention and appeared not to react when Lind announced the punishment, AP reports. He further made no statement after his fate was announced.

http://rt.com/usa/manning-sentence-years-jail-785/

"When exposing a crime is treated as committing a crime, you are ruled by criminals"

[Hannah]

I find this disgusting. o.o

[Ardemax]

In some respect this is quite good news... he will be alive when he comes out of prison and he will be hailed as a hero (a Mandela moment, perhaps).

Of course he shouldn't get any years ideally, but that's society.

[oli]

he broke the law whether for good reasons or bad reasons.

[Chippiewill]

In some respect this is quite good news... he will be alive when he comes out of prison

In theory he can be out within 9 years, however it's automatically appealed as it's more than a year so it may be reduced further.

he broke the law whether for good reasons or bad reasons.

The issue is that the people who killed innocent civilians etc. were not punished and the one who revealed it just was.

[Grig]

he broke the law whether for good reasons or bad reasons.

The beacon of freedom, it's funny. That's why Russia comes out as a victor in the Snowden case, whilst the U.S' image becomes tarnished in that sense.

But then again, the US is no different from any other country, there are very few true leaders who go by what it is to be free.

[peteyt]

he broke the law whether for good reasons or bad reasons.

Everyone who say's this needs to remember he reported on others breaking the law. Where is the justice for these?

[lawrawrrr]

It's just like that Steubenville reporter who's being given more time than the rapists, degrees of justice.

I do agree he should be punished though (as well as the people he reported), and I think he will be hailed as a hero eventually.

[-:Undertaker:-]

What a disgrace.

[karter]

that's like double the sentence murderers and rapists get

this is disgusting