United States soldier charged with killing 16 people in Afghanistan villages may face death penalty

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. (AP) -- Afghans, one by one, have told their stories of a massacre, appearing by video link at a hearing in a Washington state military courtroom for the U.S. soldier charged with killing 16 people in two villages.

Witnesses told of torched bodies, a son finding his wounded father and boys cowering behind a curtain. The defendant, Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, gave no discernible reaction as he watched the testimony.

A man who was wounded testified at the preliminary hearing that he saw a gunman climb over the wall outside his home and start shooting.

Bales is charged with 16 counts of premeditated murder and could face the death penalty if convicted.

A boy who was awoken by a neighbor has testified about hiding in a storage room and being struck by a bullet.

Earlier, a man told of finding his relatives piled together and lit on fire.