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| US soldier accused of Afghan massacre 'showed no sign of mental trauma' | US soldier accused of Afghan massacre 'showed no sign of mental trauma' |
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| An American soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, in a midnight shooting spree had a preference for aggressive military tactics and showed no signs of mental trauma before the attack, his immediate superior told a preliminary hearing. | An American soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, in a midnight shooting spree had a preference for aggressive military tactics and showed no signs of mental trauma before the attack, his immediate superior told a preliminary hearing. |
| Staff Sergeant Robert Bales had surgery for a sleep disorder, but never complained of post-traumatic stress or headaches, First Sergeant Vernon Bigham, speaking by video link from Afghanistan, told the Washington state hearing. Instead Bales was "doing an outstanding job", Bigham said, adding that he was trying to boost the decorated soldier's career prospects. "I was trying to groom him; to help him make the next step," he said. The testimony could limit any defence argument that Bales was mentally impaired during the five-hour massacre or was damaged by repeated deployments to war zones or by a reported injury to his head when his vehicle rolled over in Iraq. | Staff Sergeant Robert Bales had surgery for a sleep disorder, but never complained of post-traumatic stress or headaches, First Sergeant Vernon Bigham, speaking by video link from Afghanistan, told the Washington state hearing. Instead Bales was "doing an outstanding job", Bigham said, adding that he was trying to boost the decorated soldier's career prospects. "I was trying to groom him; to help him make the next step," he said. The testimony could limit any defence argument that Bales was mentally impaired during the five-hour massacre or was damaged by repeated deployments to war zones or by a reported injury to his head when his vehicle rolled over in Iraq. |
| The 39-year-old father of two faces 16 counts of murder, six of attempted murder and other charges of assault and use of steroids and alcohol while deployed. The hearing will determine whether the case goes to a full court martial, which his lawyers say is inevitable. He could face the death penalty. | The 39-year-old father of two faces 16 counts of murder, six of attempted murder and other charges of assault and use of steroids and alcohol while deployed. The hearing will determine whether the case goes to a full court martial, which his lawyers say is inevitable. He could face the death penalty. |
| Anger in the two villages where Bales allegedly went on his rampage prevented military investigators from visiting the crime scene for several weeks, meaning they lost the chance to gather valuable evidence. By the time they ventured out to the victims' mud homes, less than a mile from the remote base where Bales had been stationed, the bodies had been long buried and some bloodstains scraped away, according to Matthew Hoffman, of the army's Criminal Investigation Command. | Anger in the two villages where Bales allegedly went on his rampage prevented military investigators from visiting the crime scene for several weeks, meaning they lost the chance to gather valuable evidence. By the time they ventured out to the victims' mud homes, less than a mile from the remote base where Bales had been stationed, the bodies had been long buried and some bloodstains scraped away, according to Matthew Hoffman, of the army's Criminal Investigation Command. |
| However, the team still found blood from the attack spattered on some walls and ceilings and also brought back bullet casings that matched weapons Bales was reported to have carried, and fabric that matched a blanket prosecutors say he wore as a cape. Photographs of Bales's blood-spattered uniform and boots and items brought back to base could also help tie Bales to the killings, the court heard. | However, the team still found blood from the attack spattered on some walls and ceilings and also brought back bullet casings that matched weapons Bales was reported to have carried, and fabric that matched a blanket prosecutors say he wore as a cape. Photographs of Bales's blood-spattered uniform and boots and items brought back to base could also help tie Bales to the killings, the court heard. |
| The US army Criminal Investigation Command agent Trayce Lang said she had found blood in the barrel of a pistol that Bales surrendered after the attack, and matches in his pocket. Ten of the bodies were burned. | The US army Criminal Investigation Command agent Trayce Lang said she had found blood in the barrel of a pistol that Bales surrendered after the attack, and matches in his pocket. Ten of the bodies were burned. |
| Witnesses had earlier told the hearing that Bales was upset after another soldier lost a part of his leg in a bomb blast a few days earlier. Bigham admitted that the accused man was annoyed by restrictions on US forces' use of weapons. | Witnesses had earlier told the hearing that Bales was upset after another soldier lost a part of his leg in a bomb blast a few days earlier. Bigham admitted that the accused man was annoyed by restrictions on US forces' use of weapons. |
| "Was he frustrated with the rules of engagement?" the prosecutor Lieutentan Colonel Jay Morse asked Bigham. "Uh, yes," Bigham answered. He had earlier said Bales was "very excited" about the deployment to Afghanistan. | "Was he frustrated with the rules of engagement?" the prosecutor Lieutentan Colonel Jay Morse asked Bigham. "Uh, yes," Bigham answered. He had earlier said Bales was "very excited" about the deployment to Afghanistan. |
| As testimony moved on to those wounded in the attack, including young children, Bales leaned back in his chair and betrayed no reaction, Associated Press reported. He has not entered a plea nor participated in a "sanity board", because his lawyers have objected to him meeting army doctors without being in attendance. | As testimony moved on to those wounded in the attack, including young children, Bales leaned back in his chair and betrayed no reaction, Associated Press reported. He has not entered a plea nor participated in a "sanity board", because his lawyers have objected to him meeting army doctors without being in attendance. |
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