Wife springs to Bales’ defence

The wife of the US soldier accused of massacring 17 Afghans has defended him as a loving family man.

Karilyn Bales said she found the accusations “unbelievable”, in an interview with NBC.

She said Staff Sgt Robert Bales joined the army after the terror attacks of Sept 11, 2001, to “protect his family, friends and country. He wanted to do his part,” and added that her husband was “very brave, very courageous”.

Bales is accused of going off base in southern Afghanistan earlier this month and killing eight Afghan adults and nine children.

His wife said: “He loves children, he’s like a big kid himself. I have no idea what happened, but he would not... he loves children, and he would not do that.”

He was formally charged on Friday with 17 counts of murder and other crimes.