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November 14, 2012

Army Seeks Death Penalty for U.S. Sergeant Accused of Massacring Afghans 
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Closing arguments have ended in the pre-trial hearing to determine
whether U.S. Staff Sergeant Robert Bales will face a court-martial for
allegedly slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians, including nine children, in
March. Military prosecutors are seeking the death penalty while defense
attorneys have argued that alcohol abuse, drug use and post-traumatic
stress disorder all may have played a key role in fueling Bales'
actions. The presiding officer says he will issue a recommendation on
whether to proceed to court martial by the end of the week.

 

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