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| Afghan massacre suspect Sgt Bales meets lawyer | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A lawyer for the US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in their homes has met the suspect at a US army prison for the first time. | A lawyer for the US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians in their homes has met the suspect at a US army prison for the first time. |
| John Henry Browne said his three-hour meeting with Staff Sgt Robert Bales at Fort Leavenworth was "emotional". | John Henry Browne said his three-hour meeting with Staff Sgt Robert Bales at Fort Leavenworth was "emotional". |
| The killings have undermined US relations with Kabul and called into question the Nato timetable for pulling troops out of Afghanistan. | The killings have undermined US relations with Kabul and called into question the Nato timetable for pulling troops out of Afghanistan. |
| Sgt Bales, 38, is being held in solitary confinement pending charges. | Sgt Bales, 38, is being held in solitary confinement pending charges. |
| He arrived at the military detention centre in Kansas on Friday after being flown from Kuwait, the US Army said. Formal charges are expected within the week. | He arrived at the military detention centre in Kansas on Friday after being flown from Kuwait, the US Army said. Formal charges are expected within the week. |
| Sgt Bales is the only known suspect in the killings - despite repeated Afghan assertions that more than one American was involved. | Sgt Bales is the only known suspect in the killings - despite repeated Afghan assertions that more than one American was involved. |
| "What's going on on the ground in Afghanistan, you read about it, I read about it, but it's totally different when you hear about it from somebody who's been there," Mr Browne told the Associated Press. | "What's going on on the ground in Afghanistan, you read about it, I read about it, but it's totally different when you hear about it from somebody who's been there," Mr Browne told the Associated Press. |
| Sgt Bales' defence lawyer said he expected to meet him again during Monday afternoon. | Sgt Bales' defence lawyer said he expected to meet him again during Monday afternoon. |
| Mr Browne has represented a number of high-profile clients including serial killer Ted Bundy and a teenage thief known as the Barefoot Bandit. | Mr Browne has represented a number of high-profile clients including serial killer Ted Bundy and a teenage thief known as the Barefoot Bandit. |
| In a statement on Saturday, Mr Browne's team said "it is too early to determine what factors may have played into this incident". | In a statement on Saturday, Mr Browne's team said "it is too early to determine what factors may have played into this incident". |
| The sergeant's past brushes with the law included charges for assault and fleeing a car accident. | The sergeant's past brushes with the law included charges for assault and fleeing a car accident. |
| Sgt Bales paid fines in both cases and had to attend anger management classes for the assault, after which the charges were dropped. | Sgt Bales paid fines in both cases and had to attend anger management classes for the assault, after which the charges were dropped. |
| Mr Browne has suggested his client was not fit to serve because of injuries he had suffered on previous tours of duty. | Mr Browne has suggested his client was not fit to serve because of injuries he had suffered on previous tours of duty. |
| The Pentagon has previously said that Sgt Bales could face charges that carry a possible death penalty. | The Pentagon has previously said that Sgt Bales could face charges that carry a possible death penalty. |
| Such a trial could take years, contrasting with Afghan demands for swift and decisive justice. | Such a trial could take years, contrasting with Afghan demands for swift and decisive justice. |
| The Taliban called off peace talks in the wake of the deadly rampage - in which men, women and children were shot and killed at close range. | The Taliban called off peace talks in the wake of the deadly rampage - in which men, women and children were shot and killed at close range. |