The U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers last weekend saw his friend's leg blown the day before the rampage, said his lawyer Thursday night.
Seattle Attorney John Henry Browne told The Associated Press that his client family him with details of the damage to another American soldier provided. The details are not independently verified.
"His leg was blown, and my client stood next to him," he said.
Browne said that the incident affected all of the soldiers at the base. It is not clear whether the incident would have helped prompt the horrific middle-of-the-night attack on civilians in two villages last Sunday.
The suspect had wounded twice during his three previous deployments to Iraq, and he was loath to go to Afghanistan to begin with, Browne said.
Browne declined to releasing the name of his client, citing concerns for the man's family, who on joint Base Lewis-McChord under protection, near Tacoma. But he said the soldier has two young children, ages 3 and 4.
The soldier, a 38-year-old father of two who was originally from the Midwest, with the 3rd Stryker Brigade last December, and on 1 February is deployed was annexed to a "village stability operation." Browne described him as highly decorated and said that he had one times nominated for a Bronze Star, which he has not received.
FILE-In this file photo, 16 december 2011 Attorney John Henry Browne, represent Colton Harris-Moore, who is also known as the "Barefoot Bandit", appears in island County Superior Court in Coupeville, wash. Browne said Thursday, March 15, 2012 that prompts him to represent the American soldier accused of killing 16 civilians in Afghanistan. (AP Photo/Ted s. Warren, file) CloseBut he said that the soldier and his family thought he was ready to fight. During the tours in Iraq, the soldier a concussive head injury suffered in a car accident caused by a roadside bomb, Browne said, and he suffered a stroke-related damage that resulted in surgery to remove part of his foot.
He was screened by health officials after the head injury before he deployed, said Browne. He didn't know if his client was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, but said that it would be an issue at trial if experts believe that it is relevant.
He and the rest of his brigade had initially told they would not have to go to Afghanistan, said Browne.
Browne and his co-counsel, Emma, said she had met with the soldier's Scanlan wife and other family members, and Browne said he spoke briefly by phone with the soldier, who he described as stunned and Afar.
His family was "totally shocked," he said. "He has never said anything antagonistic about Muslims. He is generally very gentle. "
Browne said he knew little of the facts of the shooting, but disputed reports that a combination of alcohol, stress and domestic issues caused him to break. He said that the family said they were not aware of a drinking problem and described the couple's marriage as "fabulous."
The soldier is accused of going on a shooting rampage in villages near his base in southern Afghanistan early Sunday, killing nine children and seven other civilians and then burn some of their organs. The shooting, which followed a controversial Quran-burning incident involving American soldiers, has enraged Afghan officials.
The suspect had flown out of Afghanistan on Wednesday night what officials describe as a pretrial detention facility in Kuwait. Anonymous officials have described him as a father of two that are already in the military for 11 years. He has served in three rounds began his first broadcast to Iraq and Afghanistan in December.
The soldier asked to be represented by Browne, a well-known Seattle defense attorney, when he was taken into custody, said the lawyer.
