- Reaction score
- 64
- Points
- 530
What bothers me is what is the basis for the charges ? Statements from other OMLT members ? Taliban prisoners ? ANA soldiers ?
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_CanadianMurdercharge_010209w/
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/01/ap_CanadianMurdercharge_010209w/
[Battle-related murder charge for Canadian capt.
By Steve Rennie - The Canadian Press
Posted : Friday Jan 2, 2009 11:56:40 EST
KANDAHAR, Afghanistan — A Canadian soldier who was on hand for a bloody battle against the Taliban in October has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a presumed enemy fighter, military officials announced Friday.
Capt. Robert Semrau is accused of shooting an unarmed man during the battle, in which Afghan soldiers, their Canadian mentors and British troops defended the Helmand capital of Lashkar Gah from a prolonged attack by insurgents.
Semrau is a member of the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, the Canadian military unit that mentors the fledgling Afghan National Army.
A news release says the major crimes unit of Canada’s military police charged Semrau on Wednesday — the same day the Canadian Forces National Investigation Service announced an investigation into a death that took place “on or about” Oct. 19 in Helmand province.
Semrau is being held in military police custody before being returned to Canada, where a military judge will decide whether he remains behind bars. He faces 25 years in prison if convicted.
Military officials at Kandahar Airfield are declining further comment.
At the time of the incident, Canadian military mentors from the OMLT were in Helmand mentoring the Afghan soldiers who were participating in the bloody three-day defense of Lashkar Gah. Also taking part were British forces, who are deployed extensively in Helmand.
Afghan and foreign troops eventually retook the Nad Ali district center, which had been held by insurgents, after a three-day fight. That battle, which also involved airstrikes, ended Oct. 18. Afghan and NATO officials claimed at least 100 Taliban died in the fighting.
A NATO news release dated Oct. 19, 2008 — the date of the alleged incident — quotes Semrau talking about the experience of working with Afghan soldiers.
“Working with the ANA presents some challenges; you have to be very patient, but when you get down to the bottom of it, they are just like us and like to kid around and joke,” Semrau — identified as an OMLT “commanding mentor” — is quoted as saying.
“They’re just like soldiers all around the world and are some good guys.”
On Thursday, an Afghan army general who was on hand for the battle of Lashkar Gah said he had heard none of the allegations of “inappropriate conduct” surrounding the presumed insurgent’s death.
Gen. Sher Muhammad Zazai said the Afghan army killed so many Taliban fighters during the fight, it’s impossible to know how they all died.
The CFNIS examines all incidents involving Canadian military personnel or property in Canada and abroad.
/quote]