First pic of carnage soldier Robert Bales

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Suspect ... US soldier Robert Bales

THIS is the first picture of staff sergeant Robert Bales — the US soldier accused of slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians.

The soldier was photographed in Afghanistan last August where he met locals.


The 38-year-old dad of two was arrested after the victims — which included nine children — were gunned down in their homes in the Panjway district of Kandahar. Some of the bodies had been set on fire.

His lawyer John Henry Browne — who defended serial killer Ted Bundy — claims the highly-decorated infantryman was upset after a colleague "was brutally attacked the day before this incident and had his leg shot off in front of my client".

After speaking to the suspect, Browne said he was "like a deer in the headlights".

President Barack Obama apologised for the killings — but Afghan leader Hamid Karzai ordered Allied troops out of villages and accused the US of not co-operating with the investigation.

Seattle-based Bales, whose children are aged three and four, suffered a head injury on a tour of duty and had to have part of a foot removed. Reports suggest a combination of alcohol, stress and domestic issues caused him to snap. Last night he was flown to a top security military jail in Kansas.

Info : News