Killer soldier gets 24 years

A US soldier who pleaded guilty to the murders of three Afghan civilians was sentenced to 24 years in prison after saying “the plan was to kill people” in a conspiracy with four fellow soldiers.

Military judge Lieutenant Colonel Kwasi Hawks said he initially intended to sentence Jeremy Morlock to life in prison with possibility of parole but was bound by the plea deal.

Morlock, the first of five soldiers from the Fifth Stryker Brigade to be tried in the case, will receive 352 days off of his sentence for time served and could be eligible for parole in about seven years, said his lead lawyer, Frank Spinner. He will be dishonourably discharged as part of his sentence.