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.
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