JBLM soldier to plead guilty to Afghan massacre
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/05/29/2617059/ap-exclusive-soldier-to-admit.html
The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Stryker soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians last year plans to plead guilty to the killings next week in a deal that will spare him the death penalty, his attorney said Wednesday.
JBLM soldier to plead guilty to Afghan massacre
ADAM ASHTON; Staff writer
Published: May 29, 2013 at 1:40 p.m. PDT Updated: May 29, 2013 at 8:01 p.m. PDT
The Joint Base Lewis-McChord Stryker soldier accused of massacring 16 Afghan civilians last year plans to plead guilty to the killings next week in a deal that will spare him the death penalty, his attorney said Wednesday.
Staff Sgt. Robert Bales plea hearing is set for Wednesday, an Army official told The News Tribune.
Bales, a married father of two young children formerly of Lake Tapps, must give a full account of the killings and persuade a judge that he understands the charges against him.
He will plead guilty to 16 counts of premeditated murder, defense attorney John Henry Browne said.