Wife, accused soldier spoke briefly on phone twice

In this Aug. 23, 2011 Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System photo, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 1st platoon sergeant, Blackhorse Company, 2nd Battalion, 3rd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division participates in an exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif. / AP Photo/DVIDS, Spc. Ryan Hallock

(AP) SEATTLE - An Army staff sergeant charged with killing 17 Afghan civilians has spoken with his wife twice since he was detained, her attorney said Friday.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales called his wife Karilyn Bales, first from overseas after the March 11 pre-dawn massacre, and a second time from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., on Wednesday, attorney Lance Rosen said. He added he doesn't know from which country Bales contacted his wife during the first call.

Shortly after the shooting, Bales, 38, was moved out of Afghanistan. He is being held in Fort Leavenworth.

Rosen said that for Wednesday's call, the couple was "given advance notice the call would be coming and that the call would be monitored. It was no more than 10 minutes. They spoke about family stuff, and reaffirmed their love for each other."

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Karilyn Bales had said in a statement through Rosen that she "remains deeply grief stricken by the news reports about the night of March 11. She has no more information about what happened other than what the government and media have released."

The military on Friday charged Bales with 17 counts of murder, six counts of attempted murder and six counts of assault from the massacre in two southern Afghanistan villages near his base. The father of two from Lake Tapps, Wash., was officially informed of the charges just before noon at the military prison in Kansas.

The maximum punishment for a conviction on premeditated murder charges is death, dishonorable discharge from the armed forces, reduction to the lowest enlisted grade and total forfeiture of pay and allowances, according to Col. Gary Kolb, a spokesman for U.S. forces in Afghanistan. The mandatory minimum sentence is life imprisonment with the chance of parole.

Rosen said that the family has set up a defense fund called The Staff Sergeant Robert Bales Legal Defense Fund to help pay legal fees.

"The legal fees and costs arising from this matter will be astronomical." Rosen said earlier this week. "The family wants Robert to get the best defense possible. They can't afford it."

[Jackson1231]

"The mandatory minimum sentence is life imprisonment with the chance of parole." Chance of parole after how many years??

[shazbat34]

300 or so, if there is justice.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

"The family wants Robert to get the best defense possible. They can't afford it."

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Tough crap.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

by Ohiostatefan March 23, 2012 10:47 PM EDT
My son who is the Marines at Cherry Point NC. If he did this i would defend him to the death.
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Then your son has never explained to you that warriors are not justified in murdering innocent non-combatants.

You would be defending the murdering of innocent children in the given scenario, which makes you no better than Bales.

[retm-w]

So you are defending the Afghan soldiers that murdered our soldiers, and were never charged at all. Guess you and the Afghans think that's justified. Or your fellow Marines urinating on a corpse, yep they're real warriors lol.

[Glenndee]

retm-w- I hope your not trying to justify a solider ( any solider ) shooting a 2 year old while he slept ? You are monster if that is what you trying to do.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

She has no more information about what happened other than what the government and media have released."
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As if there's any lack of information - even a video of him surrendering afterwards.

Sheesh.

[MIO42]

When you go looking for Trouble you usually find it

[carbon154]

if the law did not punish him, God will