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For the victims and witnesses who came from Afghanistan to testify, the U.S. and its justice system were very strange. But seeing Staff Sgt. Robert Bales be sentenced to life in prison for killing 16 civilians brought them some peace. So too does their belief that he will suffer in the afterlife.

A military jury has sentenced Robert Bales, the U.S. staff sergeant who admitted killing 16 Afghan civilians in 2012, to life in prison without parole. During the punishment hearings held this week, Bales was confronted by family members of victims and people who survived the March 11, 2012, attacks.

In order to avoid the possibility of capital punishment, Robert Bales pleaded guilty to the charges this summer — a development that outraged many in Afghanistan, where victims and their family members had called for Bales to be put to death.

Army Sgt. Robert Bales pleaded guilty Wednesday to killing 16 Afghan civilians in a nighttime massacre. Audie Cornish talks with NPR's Martin Kaste, who listened to Sgt. Bales recount the killings at a military court hearing in Washington state. Bales has struck a deal with prosecutors that will spare him the death penalty.

Staff Sgt. Robert Bales pleaded guilty to 16 counts of premeditated murder. A judge has yet to accept his plea.

The U.S. soldier accused of killing 16 Afghan civilians last year has agreed to a deal that will spare him the death penalty.

The U.S. military hasn't executed anyone since 1961. Staff Sgt. Robert Bales is accused of murdering 16 Afghan civilians during a nighttime rampage in two villages.

It's been nearly two months since Sgt. Robert Bales was accused of killing 17 Afghan civilians. After that, U.S. forces essentially stopped carrying out operations in the area of the massacre. As a result, the Taliban has been able to plant more explosives.

Growing awareness about PTSD has had a downside, namely that civilians now assume veterans are likely to have psychological issues. Yet while in the military, many say they feel pressure to hide their problems. The recent mass shooting in Afghanistan has fueled misconceptions and further complicated efforts to treat PTSD.

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