Canadian soldier charged with murder in death of Taliban fighter

[darrels joy]

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, "with intent to kill," an unarmed man in Helmand province, where Afghan soldiers, their Canadian mentors and British troops had been defending the capital of Lashkar Gah from insurgent attack.


Semrau is a member of the Operational Mentor and Liaison Team, the Canadian military unit that mentors the fledgling Afghan National Army.


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 among those in Helmand for the bloody three-day defence 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 centre, which had been held by insurgents, after a three-day fight. That battle, which also involved air strikes, ended Oct. 18. Afghan and NATO officials claimed at least 100 Taliban died in the fighting.


An unrelated NATO news release dated Oct. 19, 2008 - the date of the alleged incident - quotes Semrau himself 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.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090102/national/afghan_cda_investigation