Sgt. Robert Bales’ attorney gets access to medical records

The attorney for the Fort Lewis solider accused of
murdering civilians in Afghanistan is looking at his
client’s military medical records for the first time.

Seattle attorney John Henry Browne has accused the
government of withholding evidence and documentation that
he’s requested in the case against Staff Sgt. Robert
Bales. But Browne says he finally received portions of
Bales’ medical file.

After skimming through the large file, Browne says he
found several references to Robert Bales as a “highly
motivated soldier.”

The JBLM soldier is charged with 17 counts of murder and
could face the death penalty.

When asked if drug use might be a defense in this case,
Browne points
out that in years past, drug use would disqualify soldiers
from combat.

“Now, the government is giving drugs to these guys and
that could become an issue in this case, for sure,” says
Browne.

Bales’ attorney is aware of news reports declaring that
some
witnesses to the killings claim more than one soldier was
involved. “There’s one eyewitness who said he saw 16
soldiers.

Browne says he’s been denied access to the
eyewitnesses or their statements.

After two visits to the military prison at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan. where Bales is being held, Browne tells
97.3 KIRO FM’s Ross
and
Burbank, his client is not a
threat to anybody today.

Browne continues to question the case against Bales. He
thinks there’s a specific reason the government has not
shared certain evidence of what happened in Afghanistan in
March.

“I think they’re trying to cover up the fact that they
don’t have a case and so they’re hoping that Sgt. Bales
will say something to implicate himself,” alleges Brown.