Soldier Pleads Guilty in Afghan Killings

One member of a group of American soldiers who conspired to kill unarmed Afghan civilians pleaded guilty Wednesday morning. Appearing at his court-martial at Joint Base Lewis in McChord, Washington, Jeremy Morlock pleaded guilty to three counts of premeditated murder, drug use, and assault of a fellow soldier. The Army specialist also agreed to testify in the trials of his co-defendants in exchange for a maximum sentence of 24 years. Morlock, a native of Wasilla, Alaska, is one of five soldiers the Fifth Stryker Brigade accused of plotting to kill Afghans for sport while deployed there. He was pictured posing with dead Afghans in photos that were released this week by Germany’s Der Spiegel.