U.S. soldier charged with 17 murders in Afghan killings

[News Manager]

KABUL (Reuters) - A U.S. Army sergeant was formally charged with 17 counts of murder on Friday for killing eight adults and nine children in a pre-dawn shooting rampage in southern Afghanistan that further eroded U.S.-Afghan relations already frayed by a decade of war. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a decorated 38-year-old veteran of four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, also was charged with six counts each of assault and attempted murder for attacking two other adults and four children in the March 11 shooting spree, a U.S. armed forces statement said. ...




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[Chief Bones]

The articles under which Sgt Bales was charged, carries the death penalty. It remains to be seen whether he can escape with his life.

More than likely, the defense attorney will mount a diminished capacity defense. If the court buys his defense, Bales could very likely draw a life sentence.

Depending on the findings, Bales could serve something less than his natural life and be out after 15-25 years.