In 1997, the American Bar Association, which does not oppose the death penalty as such, called for a general moratorium until jurisdictions put procedures in place to ensure that capital punishment is administered fairly, impartially, and with minimal risk that innocent people will die.

ECONOMIST: The death penalty

But his defence lawyers said that the procedures lasted well past the time when he was having suicidal thoughts and therefore amounted to illegal punishment.

BBC: Wikileaks suspect Bradley Manning to get reduced sentence