Bin Laden raid soldier called to trial

Bradley Manning allegedly gave secret documents to the WikilLeaks site (AP)

Prosecuters pursuing Private Bradley Manning for allegedly leaking harmful information to the WikilLeaks website and “aiding the enemy”, will be allowed to bring to the stand one of the Navy Seals who took part in the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, a military judge ruled in a pre-trial hearing in Maryland.

The witness, however, will be disguised and will give his testimony from a secret location. Prosecutors told the hearing the witness collected digital evidence at the compound of the al-Qa’ida leader showing that documents allegedly leaked by Manning made their way to him.

Colonel Denise Lind, who will preside when the trial starts on 3 June, dismissed efforts by the defence to have the Seal’s testimony disallowed. Manning pleaded guilty to lesser charges against him in February.