The alleged head of a rogue US army unit accused of executing Afghan civilians and mutilating their bodies came under the spotlight in a pre-trial hearing on Tuesday.

Staff Sergeant Calvin Gibbs is accused of being the ringleader of the attacks in southern Afghanistan earlier this year involving around a dozen soldiers in all.

Gibbs sat quietly between two defense attorneys as investigating officer Colonel Thomas Molloy read through the charges that Gibbs executed and mutilated Afghan civilians.

"Sergeant Gibbs, do you understand what you are charged with?" asked Molloy.

"Yes, sir," replied Gibbs.

Prosecutors say that Gibbs, 26, led four other soldiers in killing Afghan people for sport over several months this year in southern Kandahar province.

The accused soldiers were all members of the Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, from the 2nd Infantry Division's Stryker brigade, at Forward Operating Base Ramrod, in southern Kandahar province.

Gibbs is accused of playing the leading role in the horrific attacks, and then beating another soldier for blowing the whistle.

On Tuesday, Molloy named the alleged whistleblower as Justin Stoner, telling Gibbs that it was alleged he assaulted Stoner "with your hands and feet" on May 5, 2010.

The Washington Post has reported that other members of his unit named Gibbs as the man who came up with the idea of randomly targeting Afghan civilians for slaughter.

In January this year, Gibbs is alleged to have killed an Afghan man by throwing a grenade at him and shooting him with a rifle, according to charging documents released by the Army.

In September, prosecutors also accused Gibbs of taking trophies from the victims, including finger and leg bones, and a tooth.

Altogether, Gibbs faces three counts of premeditated murder, along with related charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, impeding an investigation, and dereliction of duty.

The Army held a similar hearing in September for Specialist Jeremy Morlock, 22, of Wasilla, Alaska, who also stands accused of murder. The investigating officer announced in mid-October that Morlock would face a full court martial.

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