WASHINGTON, Nov 12: A senior Afghan police investigator has told a US military court that he did not believe one soldier could have killed 16 people in two separate villages all by himself.

A military court at US Joint Base Lewis-McChord is holding a preliminary hearing against Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, 39, who  allegedly murdered 16 Afghan civilians.

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, US military officials arranged for witnesses in Afghanistan to appear before the court through a video link.

US media outlets covering the proceedings reported one senior Afghan official, Major Khudai Dad, as telling the court he did not believe Sgt.Bales was alone.