FORT LEWIS, Wash. — Staff Sgt. Robert Bales showed no emotion Wednesday inside a courtroom at Joint Base Lewis McChord as he pleaded guilty to killing 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children during killings sprees in two Afghan villages on March 11, 2012.
Military Judge Col. Jeffery Nance asked Bales why he slipped away from base twice on March 11 last year and killed all those innocent people. Bales replied "Sir as far as why? I've asked that question a million times since then and there's not a good reason in the world why I did the horrible things I did."
Bales shot most victims but also set 10 victims on fire. He admitted setting the victims on fire using a kerosene lantern but claims he does not specifically remember doing it. Bales told the judge "To tell you I remember picking up that lantern and throwing it on a group of people, I do not remember that."
Bales also admitted in court to the illegal use of alcohol and steroids. He says he used steroids three times a week to try to improve his fitness for missions but he said "It increased my irritability and anger."
In exchange for Bales guilty plea, military prosecutors took the death penalty off the table and Bales will be sentenced to life with or without the possibility of parole.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 19 at Joint Base Lewis McChord. Defense attorney's hope to get Bales a chance of eventual release by arguing the steroid use, stress of repeated deployments, post-traumatic stress disorder, and a traumatic brain injury suffered in the line of duty all contributed to push Bales to the breaking point. Defense attorney Emma Scanlan said "He deserves the chance to potentially be reunited with his family after he has served the time to punish him for what he has done."
Defense attorneys also say that Bales is concerned for the safety of other U.S. soldiers still in Afghanistan now that a plea deal has been reached that allows Bales to avoid the death penalty. Some people have expressed concern there could be retaliation against U.S. soldiers as a result. Defense attorney Scanlan said "As for the soldiers on the ground today, what Sgt. Bales wants more than anything is for the world and for the citizens of Afghanistan to know is those soldiers had nothing to do with what happened here today."
KIRO
