The U.S. soldier who killed 16 Afghanistan civilians on Sunday can get the death penalty if found guilty by the Court Martial, Leon Panetta said on Monday.
The U.S. soldier suspected of killing the civilians, including many women and children, must be brought before a court martial according to the U.S. military justice system. He risks getting the death penalty.
Regretting the terrible loss of human life, Panetta said that the reason of the murders is still unknown.
The soldier left the army base on foot at night to reach a nearby village and he is suspected of shooting the victims in cold blood before he tried to burn the bodies.