Pretrial hearing for WikiLeaks suspect ends; judge offers no timeline for her ruling

David Dishneau, The Associated Press

FORT MEADE, Md. - A pretrial hearing for an Army private charged with giving U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks has ended.

The military judge recessed the proceeding at Fort Meade on Tuesday after hearing closing arguments on whether Pfc. Bradley Manning suffered illegal pretrial punishment. Army Col. Denise Lind didn't say when she will rule.

Manning's lawyers say the conditions Manning was held in for nine months at a Marine Corps brig in Quantico, Virginia, were so harsh the case should be dismissed.

Prosecutors concede that Manning was improperly held on suicide watch for seven days and should receive seven days' credit at sentencing.

Manning is accused of sending hundreds of thousands classified documents to the anti-secrecy website. The charges include aiding the enemy. That offence carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.