Afghans say no justice in Bales' prison sentence
- 11 years ago
Robert Bales, the U.S. soldier who snuck off base and killed 16 Afghan civilians last year, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Bales pleaded guilty in June in a deal to avoid the death penalty, a decision that angered families of the victims.
SOUNDBITE: Afghan, Family of victim, saying through interpreter (Pashto)
"We wanted this murderer to be executed, but we didn't get our wish. Anyone supporting a murderer like that is my enemy. We came all the way to the U.S. to get justice. We didn't get that."
This man was one of nine Afghans whom the prosecution flew to Washington state to testify.
Like the others, he was there in Kandahar province the March 2012 night that Bales opened fire on villagers.
Armed with a pistol, a rifle and a grenade launcher, Bales killed 16 villagers-mostly women and children.
The defense had argued that bales suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury before his final deployment.
Bales pleaded guilty in June in a deal to avoid the death penalty, a decision that angered families of the victims.
SOUNDBITE: Afghan, Family of victim, saying through interpreter (Pashto)
"We wanted this murderer to be executed, but we didn't get our wish. Anyone supporting a murderer like that is my enemy. We came all the way to the U.S. to get justice. We didn't get that."
This man was one of nine Afghans whom the prosecution flew to Washington state to testify.
Like the others, he was there in Kandahar province the March 2012 night that Bales opened fire on villagers.
Armed with a pistol, a rifle and a grenade launcher, Bales killed 16 villagers-mostly women and children.
The defense had argued that bales suffered from post traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury before his final deployment.