Sergeant 'Does Not Remember Everything' From Afghan Massacre Night - East Idaho News
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Sergeant ‘Does Not Remember Everything’ From Afghan Massacre Night

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031612 SgtRobertBales2?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1332231422294US Army(KABUL, Afghanistan) — Staff Sgt. Robert Bales’ lawyer, John Henry Browne, told ABC News that his client “does not remember everything from” the day when he allegedly slaughtered 16 Afghan civilians.

In an interview with CBS News, Browne said Bales has not confessed to the shootings and has large gaps in his memory from the night of March 11 when they occurred.

“He has an early memory of that evening. … And he has a later memory of that evening but he does not have memory … in between,” Browne said.

In a statement Monday, Bales’ wife, Karilyn, offered condolences from her family to the victims, many of whom were children.

“Our hearts go out too all of them, especially to the parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents of the children who perished,” she said.

[CLICK HERE TO READ KARILYN BALES’ FULL STATEMENT]

Karilyn Bales issued her statement as her husband met with his lawyer for the first time at the Fort Leavenworth military prison, and the U.S. military said that his trial will take place in the U.S., not Afghanistan.

But Mrs. Bales said she is mystified about what happened and how her husband, the father of their two children, could be accused of such an atrocity.

“Our family has little information beyond what we read and see in the media.  What has been reported is completely out of character of the man I know and admire.  Please respect me when I say I cannot shed any light on what happened that night… I too want to know what happened.  I want to know how this could be,” she said.

Karilyn Bales alluded to efforts to protect her family and said, “The pain inevitably inflicted in war should never be an excuse to inflict yet more pain.  The cycle must be broken.  We must find peace.”

She ended her statement saying, “The victims and their families are all in my prayers, as is my husband who I love very much.”

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

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