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On Friday, the U.S. Army dropped one murder charge against Staff Sergeant Robert Bales bringing the murder counts down to 16 from 17. However, amendments in the complaint show new charges of wrongfully possessing and using steroids and unlawfully consuming alcohol while deployed.
The decorated veteran of combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan was charged of killing eight adults and nine children by breaking into their homes at night, and is also charged with six counts each of assault and attempted murder for attacking two other adults and four children.
The statement of the Army mentioned that the amendment of charges against Bales had been made upon “developments in the ongoing investigation” into the horrible incident that took place in March 11 in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province.
Bales’ actions of attacking civilians at night and killing children severely strained the relations between U.S. and Afghanistan.
The amended petition has also added another count of assault involving an earlier incident. In February, the month before Bales went berserk, he is accused of having used his hands and knees to “unlawfully strike” a male Afghan.
Currently, Bales is held at Leavenworth military prison in Kansas.
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Under the military code, Bales could face death penalty if premeditated murder is proved. However, the new charges of steroids and alcohol have the chance of ruling out premeditated murder in the long run and the possibility of life imprisonment with parole eligibility.
