Reply #31: Government Admits Brig Commander Improperly Put Bradley Manning on Suicide Watch [View All]

[Hissyspit]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=265044&mesg_id=265044

By: emptywheel Monday January 24, 2011 5:15 pm

The government has admitted to MSNBC that the Brig Commander at Quantico improperly put Bradley Manning on suicide watch last week.

The officials told NBC News, however, that a U.S. Marine commander did violate procedure when he placed Manning on “suicide watch” last week.

Military officials said Brig Commander James Averhart did not have the authority to place Manning on suicide watch for two days last week, and that only medical personnel are allowed to make that call.

The official said that after Manning had allegedly failed to follow orders from his Marine guards. Averhart declared Manning a “suicide risk.” Manning was then placed on suicide watch, which meant he was confined to his cell, stripped of most of his clothing and deprived of his reading glasses — anything that Manning could use to harm himself. At the urging of U.S. Army lawyers, Averhart lifted the suicide watch.