Charges against Bales amended
Dominick sends us a link from CNN which reports that SSG Robert Bales, the guy who murdered a bunch of Afghans in the early hours several weeks ago, has had the charges against him amended. One charge of murder was dropped (the Afghans have been saying there were 17 victims, but apparently prosecutors could only find 16) and a charge of steroid use was added;
Bales still faces six counts of attempted murder, as well as seven counts of assault — one more than previously.
In addition, the Army sergeant is charged with two counts “of wrongfully possessing and using a Schedule III controlled substance” — which the military, in its release from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state where Bales is based, defines as steroids.
He is also charged with a single count of “wrongfully consuming alcohol while deployed.”
Browne, Bales’ lawyer, called that charge “just a red herring. You don’t got out and commit the type of crimes (murders) he is accused of because you took two sips of alcohol off of someone else’s Gatorade bottle.”
The Tacoma News Tribune explains, sort of, the steroid charge;
Emma Scanlan, an attorney on Bales’ defense team, said the Army alleges that Bales obtained steroids from a Special Forces soldier at his base in Panjwai.
According to the CNN report, Bales other lawyer, John Browne is quoted as “so relieved” that the Army finally announced the steroid use for some reason.
“Steroid use is going to be an issue in this case, especially where Sgt. Bales got steroids and how he got steroids,” Browne told CNN.
Yeah, it looks like Browne is going to blame the Army for Bales’ use of a controlled substance somehow.
Category: Terror War
Jeebus.
Can’t you hear the defense now. Roid Rage made me kill! Joe
The prosecution is going to have a tough enough time proving their case if his attorney would just keep his mouth shut he would be ok, unless he has an agenda or they are railroading him. Which both aren’t mutually exclusive. Unfortunately, he will be tried convicted and awaiting execution before hasan sees a courtroom…
And that’ll probably screw up that SF soldier’s career if his name pops up
Oh yeah. He’ll drag everybody down with him he can. Or his lawyer will, at any rate.
Fuck him… and the horse he rode in on. Twinkies notwithstanding.
Hey color me an idiot, but why are there no murder charges?
Lucky, there are 16 murder charges. One was dropped, from the original 17.
At this point I don’t care. He isn’t going to get a fair trial here or there, so why bother? Most of the readers here have him convicted already. Yeah this is a sore spot for me, and in a way I kinda hope he doesn’t get convicted. If the prosecution doesn’t have a case they don’t have a case. If all they have to go on is shitty witness testimony and a shaky confession, well that may not be enough to convict.
“If all they have to go on is shitty witness testimony and a shaky confession, well that may not be enough to convict.”
How about the dead bodies? How about locale of Bales? How about the demeanor of Bales immediately after the incident?
He isn’t going to get a fair trial here or there, so why bother?
Says who? Why bother?… because we care and try to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is… that’s why!
“… and in a way I kinda hope he doesn’t get convicted.”
?????????????? WTF????