Pvt 1st Class Andrew Holmes among five soldiers charged over 'thrill killings' of civilians in Kandahar in 2010

This article is more than 9 years old

This article is more than 9 years old

A US soldier has been sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the murders of Afghan civilians last year.

Pvt 1st Class Andrew Holmes, 21, was among five soldiers charged over the "thrill killings" of the three civilians during patrols in Kandahar. The murders have been described as among the most serious war crimes charges to emerge from the Afghanistan war.

Holmes, from Boise, Idaho, confessed in court to firing a heavy machine gun at a boy from 15 feet away, after his co-defendant threw a grenade at him.

He was accused of directly participating in the first killing and initially charged with premeditated murder among other charges.

But in a deal with prosecutors, Holmes pleaded guilty to murder by an inherently dangerous act, as well as possessing a finger bone from his victim and smoking hashish.

Judge Lt Col Kwasi Hawks sentenced him on Friday to seven years in jail, saying there was no excuse for the murder.

"You aimed a fully loaded squad automatic weapon at [a] child that stood 15 feet away," he said.

However, Hawks also told the defendant, "I hope and I believe you will have a long and productive life, and I believe a happy life."

Holmes told the judge he wanted the "opportunity to be a son, a brother, a nephew".

His family cried as his sentence was given.

The soldiers, from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, south of Seattle, were arrested in Afghanistan last year after prosecutors said they killed the three men for sport in January, February and May of 2010.

Prosecutors say that in addition to the murders by the group, formerly known as the 5th Stryker Brigade but renamed the 2nd Stryker Brigade, some of the defendants kept body parts severed from the corpses and photos as war trophies.

Holmes' sentence came one day after he changed his plea to guilty in a deal with army prosecutors.

Holmes will receive credit for the 499 days he has already been behind bars and could leave prison early on good behaviour, it was reported.

He will receive a dishonorable discharge after serving his sentence, said army spokesman Joe Kubistek. Holmes will also forfeit his army pay.

During the closing argument in his case, prosecutor Major Rob Stelle showed a large photo of Holmes standing over his victim.

"It was callous, reckless indifference, a depraved heart," he said of the killing.

"The accused had a choice. He pulled the trigger and ended that man's life."

Holmes' lawyer, Dan Conway, argued his client was a 19-year-old soldier placed in a difficult situation.

Drug use was said to be rampant in the army unit.

One soldier who blew the whistle on hash smoking by his comrades was beaten up and threatened in retaliation.