Questions still unanswered after Bales hearing

[longknife]

By Rachel La Corte - The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Nov 14, 2012 9:52:50 EST

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — As Army officials weigh whether a case against a staff sergeant accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a predawn rampage will proceed to a court-martial, Robert Bales’ defense team says the government’s case is incomplete.

And outside experts say a key issue going forward will be to determine whether Bales, who served tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Read more @ Questions still unanswered after Bales hearing - Military News | News From Afghanistan, Iraq And Around The World - Military Times

Rumors are that he wasn't the only one involved in this.

 

[waltky]

Bales faces death penalty...

Army to Seek Death Penalty for Soldier in Deadly Afghan Rampage
December 19, 2012 - The U.S. Army is recommending the death penalty for an American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a shooting rampage earlier this year.

Prosecutors say Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales attacked two villages in the early morning hours of March 11. They say he left his remote base in southern Afghanistan and walked to a nearby village and killed residents, before returning to base, leaving a second time and walking to another village, where he killed more people. The dead included children.

Bales appeared in a military courtroom in November in Washington state. Prosecutors allege he was "lucid," "coherent" and "responsive" when he carried out the attack. His lawyers say he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Bales is an 11-year military veteran. He faces 16 counts of premeditated murder, six counts of attempted murder, seven counts of assault, two counts of using drugs and one count of using alcohol while deployed. A date for his court martial has not been set.

The U.S. military has not executed a service member in five decades. U.S. forces have paid compensation to the families of those killed and wounded in the attack. Bales was on his fourth war zone deployment, after three in Iraq, where reports say he suffered a brain injury.

Source

See also:

Robert Bales: Court martial for US sergeant over Afghan deaths
19 December 2012 - Sgt Bales faces 16 counts of murder

The US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghans and injuring six others could face the death penalty if found guilty of murder, the US Army says. Staff Sgt Robert Bales will face a court martial on murder and assault charges for a March attack on two villages in southern Afghanistan. No date has been set for the trial, which will take place at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. No US service member has been executed in more than 50 years. Sgt Bales faces 16 counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder, as well as charges of assault and using drugs and alcohol while deployed. Seventeen victims were women or children, and most of them were shot in the head.

Prosecutors say Sgt Bales left his base in Kandahar province, in southern Afghanistan in the early hours of 11 March. They say he attacked one village, returned to the base and then went out again to attack another nearby compound. A preliminary hearing last week was told that Sgt Bales had a "clear memory" of what had happened, as demonstrated by statements he made a few hours after the incident. Military prosecutor Maj Rob Steele told the hearing Sgt Bales was conscious of his actions.

Sgt Bales is the only known suspect in the killings - despite repeated Afghan assertions that more than one American was involved. His defence team has said the government's case is incomplete and has pointed out inconsistencies in pre-trial testimony. They have not yet said whether they will be using post-traumatic stress as a defence. Sgt Bales served three previous tours in Iraq. In March, his lawyer said Sgt Bales - whom he described as "a decorated soldier" with an exemplary record before the shooting - saw his friend's leg blown off the day before the killings.

BBC News - Robert Bales: Court martial for US sergeant over Afghan deaths

 

[Franticfrank]

Where to draw the line between a hate filled massacre and a consequence of post-traumatic stress disorder. If its a case of the latter, surely his life should be spared.