Politics & Government
JBLM Staff Sgt. Robert Bales Pleads Guilty To 16 Counts Of Premeditated Murder
The plea deal will spare the Lake Tapps man's life.
As expected, Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales pleaded guilty to 16 counts of premeditated murder Wednesday in connection with last year's nighttime massacre in Afghanistan.
His plea will spare the Joint Base Lewis-McChord Stryker soldier's life.
The Lake Tapps man gave his first meaningful testimony about the horrific night, March 11, 2012, when Bales shot and killed 16 people, many of whom were women and children, as well as six others who survived.
Bales' attorneys argued that their client - whose mind was already fragile from multiple deployments - was even weaker the night of the shootings because of steroids and alcohol.
When asked why he conducted the killings, why he killed women and children, Bales reportedly responded with this:
"I've asked that question a million times ... There's not a good reason in the world for the horrible things I did."
The military judge accepted Bales' plea. His sentencing is scheduled for August.
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