Trial begins for Canadian soldier in killing of unarmed Taliban

[Robb]

Source: AFP

(snip)

...Semrau then told Max and the private to "head back" as they "should not have to see this," said the prosecutor. The pair walked a short distance "when they heard two distinct shots."

The private "whirled around thinking he'd been caught in another ambush," his gun ready. He saw the victim was "no longer moving."

Semrau is alleged to have told the private under his command "that he couldn't live with himself if he had left a wounded human being and nobody should be made to suffer like that."

Later that day, Semrau was overhead saying that he fired the shots that killed the insurgent and that "anyone would do the same for any other human being in that situation. He is still a human being and should not suffer like that."

Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iSpWqGZPNEAZ3VqF_xYcQC70ciWA

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Worth a read. Not your typical war story.

[Solly Mack]

1. The dead man was due 3rd GC protections. He was denied those protections.

It was murder.

Canadian Forces base their code of conduct on international law.



You don't shoot the wounded to put them out of their misery. It just isn't your call.

"You" being the general you, of course.

[Jumping John]

2. Here are 2 vids of US troops doing the same

This guy was of course cleared in his commission of his crime

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jnGrl791Bg

This episode was a non-event and never investigated at all

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOyRVG0GALY

[AlecBGreen]

3. IF the man truly was dying

I agree with the soldier. He was in the best position to know how soon aid could arrive. As a career soldier, he was most likely familiar enough with wounds to know when someone had been fatally wounded. If he made the assessment that 1) the man would die long before help could arrive and 2) he was suffering needlessly, then I cant say he was wrong to do what he did. It was a s****y situation and he did what he thought he had to do. If it turns out he was lying and just felt like shooting some poor guy, throw the book at 'im.

[Posteritatis]

4. Glad I've never been confronted with that kind of choice. (nt)