Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington (CNN) -- Army Staff Sgt. Calvin Gibbs has been sentenced to life in military prison with eligibility for parole in 10 years.





A military court-martial Thursday found Gibbs guilty of murdering three Afghan civilians, illegally cutting off pieces of their corpses to keep as "souvenirs" and planting weapons to make the men appear as if they were Taliban fighters killed in legitimate firefights.





He was reduced in rank to private and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits. Whatever sentence Gibbs serves will be reduced by the 547 days he has already spent in prison.





"He said they were all dirty savages," prosecutor Maj. Andre Leblanc said at Gibbs' sentencing hearing.





"He is the savage, not the innocent Afghans he murdered. It is monstrous. What kind of savagery does it take to do this? To cut a finger off a victim and show it to people? This is a savage being"





Gibbs' attorney, Phillip Stackhouse, had asked the court for a sentence of life with parole so Gibbs would have the opportunity to be with his now-3-year-old son again.





"He has a long time to reflect on his life, what he has done and what he wants to do in the future," Stackhouse said.





Gibbs is the highest ranking of five soldiers charged with being part of a rogue "kill squad" that targeted civilians. Another seven soldiers also were charged with lesser crimes including abusing drugs, keeping "off the books" weapons and intimidating a fellow soldier not to speak out against the platoon's alleged killings.





Gibbs had pleaded not guilty.





A prosecutor described Gibbs as a "recruiting poster" soldier. But the tall, clean-cut Gibbs and the "kill squad" he was convicted of leading turned into a public-relations nightmare for the military.





"Sgt. Gibbs had a charisma, he had a 'follow me' personality," Maj. Robert Stelle, a prosecutor in the case, told the court in closing arguments Wednesday. "But it was all a bunch of crap, he had his own mission: murder and depravity."





The murders Gibbs is accused of committing took place over a period of five months last year, while Gibbs led the 3rd Platoon of the ArmyÂ¹s 5th Stryker Brigade in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan.





Gibbs' platoon was tasked with patrolling small villages in the area to build relationships with an Afghan population wary of the U.S. presence in their country. Instead, prosecutors said Gibbs and a small group of rogue soldiers allegedly plotted to murder civilians and then planted weapons on them so they appeared to be Taliban attackers.





"Selling a fake engagement as a real engagement, that's what they were doing," Stelle told the court.





In court testimony, Gibbs said he did not execute anyone. Prosecutors said Gibbs participated in the killings of three unarmed civilians: two farmers and a village cleric.





Gibbs said he killed one of the men, but he claimed it was in self-defense. However, the staff sergeant admitted to ripping and cutting off fingers of all three men he was charged with killing. He kept the body parts, he said, to give to soldiers he favored or to intimidate soldiers he disliked.





"I was numb to the situation," Gibbs told the court about why he had taken the body parts. "I wasn't thinking; it's sickening. I am embarrassed."





Gibbs also admitted to posing for photos with bodies against military regulations.





"People wanted to prove they were there," Gibbs replied when asked by his attorney why the soldiers took the photos. The Army later apologized after the photos were leaked to the press.





Gibbs appeared shocked after the verdict was read, and his wife, Army Spec. Chelsy Gibbs, began to cry. According to court records, she filed for divorce from Staff Sgt. Gibbs in August and asked for custody of their toddler son.





The panel of three officers and two enlisted soldiers started deliberating in a military courtroom near Tacoma shortly before 10 a.m.
Joint Base Lewis - McChord , Washington ( CNN ) -- Army Staff Sgt . Calvin Gibbs has been sentenced to life in military prison with eligibility for parole in 10 years . A military court - martial Thursday found Gibbs guilty of murdering three Afghan civilians , illegally cutting off pieces of their corpses to keep as " souvenirs " and planting weapons to make the men appear as if they were Taliban fighters killed in legitimate firefights . He was reduced in rank to private and ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits . Whatever sentence Gibbs serves will be reduced by the 547 days he has already spent in prison . " He said they were all dirty savages , " prosecutor Maj . Andre Leblanc said at Gibbs ' sentencing hearing . " He is the savage , not the innocent Afghans he murdered . It is monstrous . What kind of savagery does it take to do this ? To cut a finger off a victim and show it to people ? This is a savage being " Gibbs ' attorney , Phillip Stackhouse , had asked the court for a sentence of life with parole so Gibbs would have the opportunity to be with his now-3-year - old son again . " He has a long time to reflect on his life , what he has done and what he wants to do in the future , " Stackhouse said . Gibbs is the highest ranking of five soldiers charged with being part of a rogue " kill squad " that targeted civilians . Another seven soldiers also were charged with lesser crimes including abusing drugs , keeping " off the books " weapons and intimidating a fellow soldier not to speak out against the platoon 's alleged killings . Gibbs had pleaded not guilty . A prosecutor described Gibbs as a " recruiting poster " soldier . But the tall , clean - cut Gibbs and the " kill squad " he was convicted of leading turned into a public - relations nightmare for the military . " Sgt . Gibbs had a charisma , he had a ' follow me ' personality , " Maj . Robert Stelle , a prosecutor in the case , told the court in closing arguments Wednesday . " But it was all a bunch of crap , he had his own mission : murder and depravity . " The murders Gibbs is accused of committing took place over a period of five months last year , while Gibbs led the 3rd Platoon of the ArmyÂ¹s 5th Stryker Brigade in Kandahar Province , Afghanistan . Gibbs ' platoon was tasked with patrolling small villages in the area to build relationships with an Afghan population wary of the U.S. presence in their country . Instead , prosecutors said Gibbs and a small group of rogue soldiers allegedly plotted to murder civilians and then planted weapons on them so they appeared to be Taliban attackers . " Selling a fake engagement as a real engagement , that 's what they were doing , " Stelle told the court . In court testimony , Gibbs said he did not execute anyone . Prosecutors said Gibbs participated in the killings of three unarmed civilians : two farmers and a village cleric . Gibbs said he killed one of the men , but he claimed it was in self - defense . However , the staff sergeant admitted to ripping and cutting off fingers of all three men he was charged with killing . He kept the body parts , he said , to give to soldiers he favored or to intimidate soldiers he disliked . " I was numb to the situation , " Gibbs told the court about why he had taken the body parts . " I was n't thinking ; it 's sickening . I am embarrassed . " Gibbs also admitted to posing for photos with bodies against military regulations . " People wanted to prove they were there , " Gibbs replied when asked by his attorney why the soldiers took the photos . The Army later apologized after the photos were leaked to the press . Gibbs appeared shocked after the verdict was read , and his wife , Army Spec . Chelsy Gibbs , began to cry . According to court records , she filed for divorce from Staff Sgt . Gibbs in August and asked for custody of their toddler son . The panel of three officers and two enlisted soldiers started deliberating in a military courtroom near Tacoma shortly before 10 a.m.
What does prosecutor say
What does prosecutor say
"He is the savage, not the innocent Afghans he murdered. It is monstrous.
"He is the savage, not the innocent Afghans he murdered. It is monstrous.