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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Robert Bales to face murder charges over Afghan massacre | Robert Bales to face murder charges over Afghan massacre |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A US soldier suspected of killing civilians in Afghanistan will be charged with 17 counts of murder, US officials have told the BBC. | |
| Staff Sgt Robert Bales is accused of attacking the villagers in their homes in Kandahar province on 11 March. Most victims were women and children. | Staff Sgt Robert Bales is accused of attacking the villagers in their homes in Kandahar province on 11 March. Most victims were women and children. |
| Sgt Bales, 38, was later moved to a military prison in the US after being transported from Afghanistan to Kuwait. | Sgt Bales, 38, was later moved to a military prison in the US after being transported from Afghanistan to Kuwait. |
| He could face the death penalty if convicted. | He could face the death penalty if convicted. |
| 'No evidence' | 'No evidence' |
| Sgt Bales would also be charged with six counts of assault and attempted murder, a US official told the BBC. | |
| The soldier is the only known suspect in the killings - despite repeated Afghan assertions that more than one American was involved. | The soldier is the only known suspect in the killings - despite repeated Afghan assertions that more than one American was involved. |
| He is being held in solitary confinement at a military detention centre in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. | He is being held in solitary confinement at a military detention centre in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. |
| His lawyer, who has played down reports that his client was drunk on the night of the killings, said earlier this week he remembers "very little" of the incident. | His lawyer, who has played down reports that his client was drunk on the night of the killings, said earlier this week he remembers "very little" of the incident. |
| John Henry Brown also said there was "no forensic evidence" against Staff Sgt Robert Bales and "no confession". | John Henry Brown also said there was "no forensic evidence" against Staff Sgt Robert Bales and "no confession". |
| The case has undermined US relations with Kabul and led to calls for Nato to speed up its planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. | The case has undermined US relations with Kabul and led to calls for Nato to speed up its planned withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. |
| Sgt Bales' trial could take years, contrasting with Afghan demands for swift and decisive justice. | Sgt Bales' trial could take years, contrasting with Afghan demands for swift and decisive justice. |
| The Taliban called off peace talks in the wake of the deadly rampage. | The Taliban called off peace talks in the wake of the deadly rampage. |