Robert Bales, the US soldier who fatally shot 16 Afghan civilians in Panjwai, Kandahar on March 11, 2012, has been sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Bales pleaded guilty in June in a deal to avoid the death penalty, a decision that angered families of the victims.

A relative of victims said, "We wanted this murderer to be executed, but we didn't get our wish. Anyone supporting a murderer like that is my enemy. We came all the way to the US to get justice. We didn't get that."

This man was one of nine Afghans whom the prosecution flew to Washington to testify. Like the others, he was there in Kandahar province the March 2012 night that Bales opened fire on villagers.

Armed with a pistol, a rifle and a grenade launcher, Bales killed 16 villagers-mostly women and children.
The defense had claimed that bales suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and a brain injury before his final deployment.

Another Afghan said that they claim he was crazy. He had mental issues. And if he had mental issues, how come he didn't do the same to his family or his team members on his own base. He's not crazy. He's a murderer.

The sentencing of the four-tour veteran comes just a day after he apologized to the victims' families for what he called "an act of cowardice."

NTJ/SHI