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At Hearing, Focus Turns To Soldier’s Mind-Set At Hearing, Focus Turns to Soldier’s Mind-Set
(about 4 hours later)
JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (AP) — An Army medic testified on Tuesday that he saw Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan, covered in blood and that he knew from experience that the blood was not his own.JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (AP) — An Army medic testified on Tuesday that he saw Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, the soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan, covered in blood and that he knew from experience that the blood was not his own.
The medic, Sgt. First Class James Stillwell, said he asked Sergeant Bales where the blood came from and where he had been.The medic, Sgt. First Class James Stillwell, said he asked Sergeant Bales where the blood came from and where he had been.
Sergeant Bales responded with a shrug, Sergeant Stillwell testified, and then said, “If I tell you, you guys will have to testify against me.”Sergeant Bales responded with a shrug, Sergeant Stillwell testified, and then said, “If I tell you, you guys will have to testify against me.”
The hearing, which began on Monday here at the base where Sergeant Bales was stationed, about an hour south of Seattle, was the first step in the military justice process. The Article 32 hearing, as it is called, is roughly the equivalent of a grand jury inquiry, intended to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to continue to a full court-martial.The hearing, which began on Monday here at the base where Sergeant Bales was stationed, about an hour south of Seattle, was the first step in the military justice process. The Article 32 hearing, as it is called, is roughly the equivalent of a grand jury inquiry, intended to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to continue to a full court-martial.
During the hearing, which could last two weeks or more, at least 35 witnesses are expected to testify, some through live video uplink from Afghanistan. The presiding officer, Col. Lee Deneke, will then make his recommendation about what the next step should be and whether the death penalty should be considered, as the prosecution has requested.During the hearing, which could last two weeks or more, at least 35 witnesses are expected to testify, some through live video uplink from Afghanistan. The presiding officer, Col. Lee Deneke, will then make his recommendation about what the next step should be and whether the death penalty should be considered, as the prosecution has requested.
Prosecutors said the medic’s statement was one of many attributed to Sergeant Bales that suggested that he knew what he was doing the night he surrendered.Prosecutors said the medic’s statement was one of many attributed to Sergeant Bales that suggested that he knew what he was doing the night he surrendered.
The remarks, offered by soldiers testifying for the government, could pose a high hurdle for defense lawyers, who have indicated that Sergeant Bales’s mental health would be a big part of their defense.The remarks, offered by soldiers testifying for the government, could pose a high hurdle for defense lawyers, who have indicated that Sergeant Bales’s mental health would be a big part of their defense.
Defense lawyers have noted that Sergeant Bales was serving his fourth deployment, and that he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as a concussive head injury in Iraq.Defense lawyers have noted that Sergeant Bales was serving his fourth deployment, and that he had suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as well as a concussive head injury in Iraq.
Sergeant Bales, 39, an 11-year military veteran, faces 16 counts of premeditated murder and six counts of attempted murder in the March 11 attack on the villages of Balandi and Alkozai, where nine children were among the victims.Sergeant Bales, 39, an 11-year military veteran, faces 16 counts of premeditated murder and six counts of attempted murder in the March 11 attack on the villages of Balandi and Alkozai, where nine children were among the victims.
A prosecutor’s opening statement and witness testimony suggested that Sergeant Bales spent the evening before the massacre at his remote outpost of Camp Belambay with two other soldiers, watching a movie about revenge killings, sharing contraband whiskey and discussing an attack that cost one of their fellow soldiers his leg.A prosecutor’s opening statement and witness testimony suggested that Sergeant Bales spent the evening before the massacre at his remote outpost of Camp Belambay with two other soldiers, watching a movie about revenge killings, sharing contraband whiskey and discussing an attack that cost one of their fellow soldiers his leg.
Soldiers testified that after being taken into custody, Sergeant Bales told them, “I thought I was doing the right thing.”Soldiers testified that after being taken into custody, Sergeant Bales told them, “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
Sergeant Stillwell, the medic, said Sergeant Bales had told him that the soldiers at Camp Belambay would appreciate his actions once the fighting season intensified: “You guys are going to thank me come June.”Sergeant Stillwell, the medic, said Sergeant Bales had told him that the soldiers at Camp Belambay would appreciate his actions once the fighting season intensified: “You guys are going to thank me come June.”
Sergeant Bales was largely calm and compliant when he turned himself in, several soldiers testified on Tuesday. He followed orders and sometimes sat with his head in his hands, as though the magnitude of what he had done was sinking in, one said.Sergeant Bales was largely calm and compliant when he turned himself in, several soldiers testified on Tuesday. He followed orders and sometimes sat with his head in his hands, as though the magnitude of what he had done was sinking in, one said.
At one point, they said, he made a joke — pointing his hand in the shape of a gun at two soldiers guarding him — in what they took as a failed effort to ease the tension.At one point, they said, he made a joke — pointing his hand in the shape of a gun at two soldiers guarding him — in what they took as a failed effort to ease the tension.
Sergeant Bales has not entered a plea and is not expected to testify.Sergeant Bales has not entered a plea and is not expected to testify.
Defense lawyers called their first witness on Tuesday, a soldier who bagged the blood-soaked clothes that Sergeant Bales had been wearing. The testimony focused primarily on how the evidence was handled.Defense lawyers called their first witness on Tuesday, a soldier who bagged the blood-soaked clothes that Sergeant Bales had been wearing. The testimony focused primarily on how the evidence was handled.