Accused Afghan killer returns to JBLM
Oct 16, 2012, 5:58 AM | Updated: 7:35 am
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, a Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier accused of gunning down Afghan civilians, is back in Washington for the first time since he deployed last year. (AP Photo/file)
(AP Photo/file)
The Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier accused of gunning down Afghan civilians is back in Washington for the first time since he deployed last year.
Staff Sergeant Robert Bales arrived at JBLM Monday night.
The 39-year-old accused murderer has spent the seven months since the massacre at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
He’s in Washington for a two-week pre-trial hearing that’s scheduled to begin at JBLM November 5.
The early move gives him a chance to see his family and get more time with his defense team.
Bales is accused of slipping out of remote outpost March 11 and killing 16 civilians, many of them women and children.
Bales could face the death penalty if convicted at his trial next year.
