This blog has been established to provide space for stories, comments, and reflections on old North Quincy, your thoughts or mine. And for all those who have bled Raider red.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
In
court next week: Gov't seeks to block whistle-blower motive.
Bradley in court next week:
Gov't seeks to block reference to whistle-blower motives.
Judge Lind may rule on motion to dismiss charges based on unlawful
pretrial punishment, and prosecutors to argue motion to block any reference to
Bradley Manning’s whistle-blower motives. Two months remain before the court
martial, take action!
Bradley Manning
returns to court next week, January 8-11, 2013, for another pretrial hearing.
Government prosecutors will argue their motion to block both any reference to
the lack of harm caused by the released documents, and any reference of Bradley
Manning’s whistle-blower motives, from the merits portion of his trial. If
granted by military judge Col. Denise Lind, it will make it difficult for the
defense to show that Bradley Manning released documents to uncover crimes and
abuse and to better inform the American public. As Bradley’s lawyer David Coombs
said, it could “cut Bradley’s defense at its knees”.
It is also possible that Judge Lind will rule on the defense motion to
dismiss charges all the charges based on the abusive and unlawful pretrial
treatment Bradley Manning endured at the Quantico Marine brig prison. PFC
Manning was kept in solitary confinement for over nine months, against the
consistent recommendations of brig psychiatrists. If Judge Lind finds that this
treatment was intentionally punitive, she could throw out the charges against
PFC Manning, or she could award him multiplied credit for sentencing, possibly
as much as ten days credit for every day spent in solitary confinement.
Bradley Manning’s court-martial trial is currently scheduled to begin March
6, 2013. This gives us two months to ramp up our efforts. Help us pressure the
government and military to do the right thing: free Bradley Manning. We are
asking supporters to take action during the proceeding court dates, and
particularly leading up to the court martial. You can find
solidarity events in your area here, as well as register your own.
Court dates:
8-11 January 2013: Judicial notice motions and Defense
witness litigation 16-17 January 2013: Defense Motion to Dismiss for
Lack of a Speedy Trial 5-8 February 2013: Providence inquiry and
“Grunden” issues (re. what portions of the trial will be closed to the public
due to the government’s security concerns); 27 February – 1 March
2013: Grunden issues continued (re. what portions of the trial will be
closed to the public due to the government’s security concerns) 6 March –
17 April 2013: Trial (18 March 2013: Current alternate trial start
date)
Following next week’s hearing, PFC Manning is scheduled to return to Fort
Meade on January 16 and 17, to conclude the defense’s motion to dismiss for lack
of a speedy trial. When that motion is argued, PFC Manning will have been
awaiting trial in prison for nearly 1,000 days.
Help us continue to cover
100% of Bradley's legal fees! Donate today.
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