US Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales will be charged with 17 counts of murder, assault and a string of other offences in the massacre of Afghan villagers as they slept, a US official said.

A US Army Staff Sergeant accused of slaughtering 16 Afghan civilians in a night-time shooting spree remembers little about the incident, his lawyer has said.

A diverging portrait of the US Army sergeant accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers is emerging as records and interviews show a man appreciated by friends and family who won military commendations, yet faced professional disappointment, financial trouble and brushes with the law.

A former platoon leader for the US soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians described the allegations as "100% out of character" for the man he said was as a model soldier who saved other troops' lives.

The American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a pre-dawn shooting rampage was named last night as Staff Sgt Robert Bales.

The American soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan villagers in a pre-dawn shooting rampage was named tonight as Staff Sgt Robert Bales.