Accused leaker Manning says he considered suicide while in custody [View all]

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Source: CNN


By Larry Shaughnessy, CNN Pentagon Producer
updated 5:27 PM EST, Thu November 29, 2012

Fort Meade, Maryland (CNN) -- Army private Bradley Manning, charged in the largest leak of classified material in American history, spoke at length on Thursday about his treatment in military custody, saying he grew distressed and considered suicide at one point.

In a clear voice and often gesturing with his hands at a hearing at Ft. Meade, Maryland, the bi-spectacled Manning described his experiences publicly for the first time since his arrest more than two years ago.

The hearing was held to consider a defense motion to have his case dismissed on grounds his confinement so far has been harsh and has amounted to enough punishment.

At the very least, his lawyers hope the judge would take his confinement into account and sharply reduce his sentence, if convicted at his court-martial set to begin early next year ...



Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/29/justice/manning-wikileaks/index.html

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WikiLeaks suspect tells court he was suicidal
by Dan De Luce | November 30, 2012

... Manning said that soon after his detention he lost phone privileges and started to feel increasingly anxious and distressed ...

Before his transfer to Quantico, Manning said guards at a US brig in Kuwait repeatedly searched his cell and scattered his possessions.

He said he felt increasingly "hopeless."

Manning said he soon had suicidal thoughts, which he conveyed to mental health counselors ...

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/afp/wikileaks-suspect-tells-court-he-was-suicidal/559025




Army GI testifies he thought he'd die in custody
Posted: Nov 29, 2012 12:47 PM EST Updated: Nov 29, 2012 5:57 PM EST
By By DAVID DISHNEAU
Associated Press

FORT MEADE, Md. (AP) - An Army private charged in the biggest security breach in U.S. history testified Thursday that he felt like a doomed, caged animal after he was arrested in Baghdad for allegedly sending classified information to the secret-spilling website WikiLeaks ...

"I remember thinking I'm going to die. I'm stuck inside this cage," Manning said in response to questions from defense attorney David Coombs. "I just thought I was going to die in that cage. And that's how I saw it - an animal cage."

Manning was later sent to a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Va., in July 2010. His lawyers are seeking dismissal of all charges, contending his pretrial confinement at Quantico was needlessly harsh ...

Speaking in emphatic bursts, sometimes stumbling over his words, Manning said that at Quantico, where he was held for nine months in highly restrictive maximum custody, "I started to feel like I was mentally going back to Kuwait mode, in that lonely, dark, black hole place, mentally" ...

http://www.kswt.com/story/20218322/judge-accepts-terms-of-mannings-proposed-plea