The U.S. Army dropped one murder charge against Staff Sergeant Robert Bales who is accused of killing Afghan villagers in March but added new charges.
Colonel Gary Dangerfield, spokesman for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle, where Bales was assigned, said one murder charge was dropped after it was discovered one of the dead Afghan villagers on a list of victims was counted twice.
But Dangerfield said Bales faces new charges of burning bodies, possessing and using steroids and illegally consuming alcohol while deployed as well as previous charges of premeditated murder, murder and assault.
Bales is accused of leaving his base in the Panjwai district of Kandahar on the night of March 11 and going to two Afghan villages where he opened fire on civilians in their homes, killing 16 people.
Colonel Gary Dangerfield, spokesman for the Joint Base Lewis-McChord south of Seattle, where Bales was assigned, said one murder charge was dropped after it was discovered one of the dead Afghan villagers on a list of victims was counted twice.
But Dangerfield said Bales faces new charges of burning bodies, possessing and using steroids and illegally consuming alcohol while deployed as well as previous charges of premeditated murder, murder and assault.
Bales is accused of leaving his base in the Panjwai district of Kandahar on the night of March 11 and going to two Afghan villages where he opened fire on civilians in their homes, killing 16 people.