"A Canadian soldier has pleaded not guilty of murder in the death of a wounded, disarmed insurgent in Afghanistan. Capt. Robert Semrau, 36, pleaded not guilty to four charges, including second-degree murder, at his court martial in Gatineau, Que., on Wednesday."
He was mentoring an Afghan Army foot patrol when it was fired on from a village. After an attack by a US helicopter, the soldiers found two people presumed to be Taliban fighters. One was dead, the other was severely wounded. The wounded man was armed when found, but his weapon was confiscated. It was decided his condition was so bad that he couldn't be treated or moved, so he was left behind.
According to a statement of circumstances released jointly by defence and prosecution lawyers in January 2009, one Canadian soldier said he saw Semrau standing over the wounded man as the group was leaving the area. Two shots were heard by the group, and another soldier said he saw Semrau fire in the direction of the wounded man. When they returned, the man was dead.
Well war is war. If he gets found guilty I hope the penalty won't be severe. A US soldier was actually filmed by reporters shooting a wounded insurgent in Iraq. I wonder what became of him?
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