U.S. soldier charged in Afghan massacre had PTSD: lawyer

Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales, his attorney John Henry Browne, Judge Col. Jeffery R. Nance and prosecutor Major Rob Stelle are seen in a courtroom sketch as he is arraignedTACOMA, Washington (Reuters) – A U.S. soldier charged with capital murder in the slayings of 16 civilians near his military post in Afghanistan was diagnosed as suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury prior to the killings, his lawyer said on Thursday. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Robert Bales, a decorated veteran of four combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan who is accused of gunning down the villagers, mostly women and children, in cold blood during two rampages through their family compounds in Kandahar province last March. …