Afghanistan massacre

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US Soldier: No 'Good Reason' Why I Killed Afghan Villagers

Robert Bales pleads guilty to avoid death penalty

(Newser) - As expected , the American soldier charged with killing 16 Afghan civilians during a nighttime massacre on two villages last year has pleaded guilty to avoid the death penalty. Staff Sgt. Robert Bales entered the plea today in a military courtroom near Seattle. Bales, 39, said he left the remote...

Afghan Massacre Suspect to Plead Guilty, Avoid Death

Victims' relatives are irate Robert Bales won't face execution

(Newser) - Staff Sgt. Robert Bales will plead guilty to the murder of 16 Afghan villagers, his lawyer tells CNN , in a move to dodge the death penalty. Lawyer John Henry Browne says military prosecutors have approved the plea, but a rep for Joint Base Lewis-McChord wouldn't say whether the matter...

Afghan Massacre Suspect Had Brain Injury: Lawyer

Lawyers ready 'mental health defense' for Robert Bales

(Newser) - Before allegedly launching a shooting spree against Afghan villagers, US Staff Sgt. Robert Bales was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, his lawyer said at a hearing yesterday. Bales' defense team said it was readying a "mental health defense" in the massacre case; lawyer John Henry...

Soldier in Afghan Massacre to Face Death Penalty

Army will seek death for Robert Bales, it announced today

(Newser) - The US Army said today it will seek the death penalty against the soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan villagers, including nine children, during pre-dawn raids in March. The announcement followed a pretrial hearing last month for Staff Sgt. Robert Bales , 39, who faces premeditated murder and other charges in...

Army Seeks Death Penalty for Bales

But defense cites toxic mix of drugs, alcohol in stressful environment

(Newser) - Military prosecutors in the murder trial of Staff Sgt. Robert Bales are calling for the death penalty, saying that his "heinous, brutal, methodical, despicable” murders of 16 Afghan civilians in a shooting rampage, especially the nine children who died , merit the ultimate punishment, reports the New York Times . But...

Risky Malaria Drug: a Factor in Afghan Massacre?

US military orders emergency review of mefloquine use

(Newser) - In the wake of the shootings of 17 civilians in Afghanistan, the US military is scrambling to limit the use of an anti-malaria drug that can have serious side effects—including psychotic behavior. Mefloquine, also called Lariam, has already been implicated in a number of suicides and homicides. In 2009,...

Robert Bales' Wife: I Don't Think He Killed Them

Karilyn Bales tells Matt Lauer, 'This is not what it appears to be'

(Newser) - When Karilyn Bales first heard that the US soldier accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians was a 38-year-old staff sergeant, it occurred to her that "I don't think there are very many of those," she told Matt Lauer on Today this morning, and she "prayed and...

Accused Afghan Shooter Had Arrest Record

Lawyer plans to meet with Robert Bales today

(Newser) - Taliban leaders are insisting that US Staff Sergeant Robert Bales didn't act alone when he allegedly massacred 16 Afghan civilians as they slept. "We don't think that one American was involved," a Taliban official told CNN , without offering further details. "The foreigners and the puppet...

Accused Army Sergeant Seen as Quiet Family Man

But Robert Bales was disappointed in lack of promotion, Afghan tour

(Newser) - Information about Robert Bales, the US staff sergeant accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians , is emerging now that he's been identified . The married father of two is originally from Ohio, reports NBC News . He joined the Army 11 years ago at 27, right after the Sept. 11 attacks, and...

Afghanistan Shooting Suspect Identified

Senior US official names Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales

(Newser) - A senior US official says the soldier accused in the killing of 16 Afghan civilians is Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales. American officials had previously said the suspect was a 38-year-old staff sergeant and that he had spent 11 years in the Army. But they had refused to release his...

Video Shows Suspected Afghan Shooter Surrender

Soldier seen removing Afghan shawl, laying down his weapon

(Newser) - Afghan officials have suggested more than one shooter was involved in Sunday's massacre of 16 villagers , but surveillance video shows just one US soldier. The still-unnamed soldier is shown returning to his base, setting his weapon on the ground, removing a traditional Afghan shawl, and raising his arms in...

Afghanistan Shooting Suspect Had Brain Injury

Soldier also had marital trouble before deployment

(Newser) - The lone US soldier suspected of fatally shooting 16 Afghan civilians in a berserk weekend rampage suffered a traumatic brain injury during a recent tour of war duty, sources tell ABC News . The 38-year-old unidentified Army staff sergeant was treated for traumatic brain injury after some kind of vehicle accident,...

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