A US soldier was sentenced to seven years in prison after becoming the third member of an army unit to admit his role in killings of Afghan civilians.
Private First Class Andrew Holmes, who struck a plea bargain on Thursday, will also be dishonorably discharged from the military, according to presiding judge Lieutenant Colonel Kwasi Hawks.
If the case had gone to trial and Holmes was convicted, he would have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
With credit for 499 days of time served and potential time off for good behavior, the 21-year-old Holmes could be free much sooner, albeit with a dishonorable discharge.
Defense attorney Daniel Conway said after the day's proceedings that he will start the appeals process soon. "We're hoping to have him out by the time he's 25," Conway said.
Hawks had recommended a sentence of 15 years but the plea deal struck with prosecutors had capped that time to a maximum of seven years. Holmes also forfeits all pay and receives a reduction in grade to E-1. Harsh, eh?
Holmes on Thursday pleaded guilty to murder, but not to premeditated murder, during a court-martial hearing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, in the western state of Washington.
Two other members of the unit, Jeremy Morlock and Adam Winfield, reached plea deals earlier this year as the US Army works to conclude the high-profile war crimes case.
Private First Class Andrew Holmes, who struck a plea bargain on Thursday, will also be dishonorably discharged from the military, according to presiding judge Lieutenant Colonel Kwasi Hawks.
If the case had gone to trial and Holmes was convicted, he would have faced a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.
With credit for 499 days of time served and potential time off for good behavior, the 21-year-old Holmes could be free much sooner, albeit with a dishonorable discharge.
Defense attorney Daniel Conway said after the day's proceedings that he will start the appeals process soon. "We're hoping to have him out by the time he's 25," Conway said.
Hawks had recommended a sentence of 15 years but the plea deal struck with prosecutors had capped that time to a maximum of seven years. Holmes also forfeits all pay and receives a reduction in grade to E-1. Harsh, eh?
Holmes on Thursday pleaded guilty to murder, but not to premeditated murder, during a court-martial hearing at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma, in the western state of Washington.
Two other members of the unit, Jeremy Morlock and Adam Winfield, reached plea deals earlier this year as the US Army works to conclude the high-profile war crimes case.
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