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Third US soldier sentenced for war crimes

A US soldier has been found guilty and sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in killing Afghan civilians.

21-year old Pvt 1st Class Andrew Holmes reached a plea deal with prosecutors pleaded guilty to the unpremeditated murder of a 15-year old villager in Afghanistan last year. He also pleaded guilty to charges relating to possession of a severed finger and smoking hashish.

See report by AFP here.

The prosecution alleges that soldiers threw grenades and fired guns at villagers, before planting weapons on them to make it seem as if the victims had fired first. They are also accused of taking photos and videos posing with the victims as “war trophies”.

Holmes is one of five members of the 5th Stryker Brigade, nicknamed “The Kill Team”, who face murder charges for attacks staged in Afghan villagers.

Two other members of the alleged rogue unit also reached plea deals earlier this year, while a further two await trial.

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