Soldier accused of Afghan massacre ‘could plead insanity’

The un-named soldier is accused of killing the Afghan civilians, including women and children, in their homes in Kandahar province.

His lawyer, John Henry Browne, told Channel 4 News he had suffered brain injuries in previous tours to Iraq, having enlisted with the US Army within a week of 9/11.

Mr Brown claimed that his client had suffered concussive head injury, for which he had received no treatment, and that his three previous tours in Iraq “had [been] very troublesome and very problematic and he saw a great deal of violence and lost a lot of friends”.

The soldier was reluctant to be sent back to the Middle East, the lawyer said, and his family “not happy” about the army’s U-turn on a decision not to redeploy him to the region.

“He and the family were told that his tours of the Middle East were over. And then literally overnight that changed,” Mr Browne said.

He added that the soldier’s family were dismayed by the thought that he could commit the crimes he is accused of.

“The family are in shock and disbelief…unbelieving that he could do such a thing,” he told Channel 4 News.

Mr Browne also denied suggestions that the soldier had alcohol problems and that his relationship with his wife was strained.

“He comes from a very strong, very loving family. There are no marital problems, there’s been no domestic violence. He’s a decorated soldier, a professional military person originally from the mid-West. “

Mr Browne said that his client, who had been studying to become a recruiter for the US Army, was unaware of what he has been accused of doing.

“He’s kind of like a deer in the headlights at the moment…he seemed to be in shock and not aware of a lot of the facts…which of course gives me great concern about his mental state at the moment.”

He added that he expects the soldier and father of two young children to plead not guilty if he is charged, and added that he has been told by US authorities his client will not face trial in Afghanistan.

The suspect was flown out of Afghanistan to what officials describe as a pre-trial confinement facility in Kuwait.

According to the New York Times, he may be moved to a US facility, such as Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

What now for US Afghan mission after Kandahar shootings?