Staff Sgt. Robert Bales faces fewer murder charges in Afghan shooting rampage; Steroid charge added

Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales participates in an exercise at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., in this Aug. 23, 2011, Defense Video & Imagery Distribution System picture. / AP Photo/DVIDS, Spc. Ryan Hallock

(AP) SEATTLE - The Army dropped a murder charge, but added others, including steroid use, against a soldier accused in a deadly shooting rampage in Afghanistan, his lawyer said Friday.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is now accused of gunning down 16 civilians — instead of 17 — in a pre-dawn raid on two Afghan villages in March.

Bales attorney Emma Scanlan said she received the new charges Friday and that there was nothing surprising in them. There had been talk for some time that the number of victims in the massacre had been over-counted.

"We're looking forward to putting on a defense and seeing what they can prove," Scanlan said. Scanlan also said the Army dropped off 5,000 pages of discovery materials at her office on Friday.

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Bales now faces 16 counts of premeditated murder; six of attempted murder; seven of assault; one of possessing steroids; one of using steroids; one of destroying a laptop computer; one of burning bodies; and one of using alcohol.

"At some point, steroid use could become an issue in this case, and where he got it could become an issue in this case," said Bales' other lawyer, John Henry Browne. He declined to comment further.

Bales, a father of two from Lake Tapps, Wash., is accused of walking off the base where he was deployed in southern Afghanistan with a 9 mm pistol and M-4 rifle outfitted with a grenade launcher.

Officials say he walked to two local villages, where he killed the villagers and then burned some of their bodies.

Bales is based at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, but is being held at the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

[juandeveras]

Yalda Hakim is an award-winning Afghan-born reporter for the Australian SDS news network whose live mid-March interview recorded and videotaped (seen on CNN) with six young witnesses to Bales' alleged activities - an interview done inside the residence where the killings actually occurred - with questions asked in their own language - belies the AP's and the US government's continued attempt to blame Bales. The witnesses all stated the exact same thing - that there were 15-20 soldiers present while helicopters hovered overhead for the duration. The witnesses continued that the soldiers had lights on their helmets and lights on their rifles. In addition, chief US Army psychiatrist Elspeth Ritchie has stated that the US government needs to come clean concerning its suppression of data surrounding the horrific side effects of an anti-malarial drug known as mefloquine, which was administered to Bales some ten days prior to the killings. Moving him to Leavenworth enables the government to have sufficient time for the effects of the mefloquine to wear off. In 2002, 4 soldiers given the drug in Afghanistan came home and violently killed their wives. There may be a government coverup concerning this matter.

[neill10]

Sgt. Robert Bales is a coward. He attacked women, children and old men instead of the taliban or any real threat. He wasn't grieving for his friend. He's the worst type of animal who just used his friend's death as a cover to let his base instincts take over. This man is a disgrace and worse then the enemy our army is fighting in Afghanistan. It sickens me to see people justify his evil bahaviour on drugs. He knew the victims were going to be defenseless. He's a coward, a scumbag, 9worst then a terrorist because they fight for something)this guy just did to releive his stress. He deserves the death penalty.

[tunafisheater]

wars destroy,but it make profits and that makes america great...he will pay the price, others will count the money...but we still must protect our nation, there is no clean answer...if you volunteer for service,this is to be expected...

[sgtstumpy24]

Sgt Bales had 90% of his foot blown off during a previous deployment which the doctors probably gave him steroids for. The ARMY bandaged him up and told him he had to go back even though he said he didn't want to go. They pumped him up with psychotropic drugs and shipped him off to protect the interests of the rich elite bankers and war mongers. His best friend was killed that morning by an IED and he snaps because the brain inhibitor drugs. The ARMY should be on trial for murder not Sgt Bales.

[GoodOleBoy27]

Elite bankers and war mongers?

Moron!!

[neill10]

Sgt. Robert Bales is a coward. He attacked women, children and old men instead of the taliban or any real threat. He wasn't grieving for his friend. He's the worst type of animal who just used his friend's death as a cover to let his base instincts take over. This man is a disgrace and worse then the enemy our army is fighting in Afghanistan. It sickens me to see people justify his evil bahaviour on drugs. He knew the victims were going to be defenseless. He's a coward, a scumbag, 9worst then a terrorist because they fight for something)this guy just did to releive his stress. He deserves the death penalty.