Soldier Accused of Afghan Village Massacre Arraigned by U.S. Military Court
A U.S. Army Staff Sergeant has been charged with the murder of 16 people, including nine children, in two villages in Afghanistan, according to NBC News. He was arraigned on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State. Military judge Colonel Jeffrey Nance is hearing the case.
The Army Staff Sergeant is accused of leaving a remote outpost in Afghanistan, on his own, after drinking with other soldiers on March 11, 2012 and proceeding to go on a rampage, killing 16 people in nearby villages. Prosecutors claim that the Sergeant did this alone and acted with “chilling premeditation,” having gone to the villages armed with a rifle, pistol, and grenade launcher. He allegedly went back to the military outpost where he told another soldier that he “shot up some people” before heading to the second village.
A number of mental health issues have been raised by the defense that could have affected the Sergeant. These include a traumatic brain injury, using drugs provided by the military, and repeated deployments. Military judge Col. Nance has ordered the Sergeant to appear before a sanity board, where neutral doctors will evaluate his mental state at the time of the killings and whether he is in a condition to stand trial.
As a former Marine, military defense attorney Joseph H. Low, genuinely understands the conditions that soldiers must endure on active duty. There is never one side to a story and our military service men and women, who have devoted their careers to the protection of U.S. citizens and ideals, deserve to have their story heard.
If you are a member of the military and are facing criminal charges, in the U.S or abroad, attorney Joseph Low can help. Call (888) 454-5569 to discuss your situation.