FORT MEADE, Md. — The Marine Corps’ top correctional officer says an Army private charged with giving U.S. secrets to WikiLeaks was improperly kept on suicide watch for at least seven days of his nine months’ confinement at a brig in Quantico, Va.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Abel Galaviz testified Wednesday during a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade for Pfc. Bradley Manning. The hearing is to determine whether Manning’s confinement was so punishing that the case should be dismissed.
Galaviz says the brig commander should have immediately followed psychiatrists’ recommendations to take Manning off suicide watch instead of waiting several days, on two occasions.
Galaviz also testified that a board that made recommendations to the commander about Manning’s confinement conditions used improper procedures.
The brig commander is scheduled to testify Thursday.