A U.S. soldier who pleaded guilty for murders of three Afghan civilians has been sentenced to 24 years in prison. He said the plan was to kill people in a conspiracy with four fellow soldiers. Army investigators accused him of taking a lead role in the killings of three unarmed Afghan men in Kandahar province in January, February and May last year. Under his plea deal, he has agreed to testify against his co-defendants. Speaking to reporters after the sentencing, his attorney read a statement in which the soldier apologized for the pain he had caused to his victims families and the people of Afghanistan and asked for forgiveness from his fellow soldiers. Earlier this week, a German news magazine published three photos showing the sentenced soldier and others posing with dead Afghans.