Spanks
LE

Here's the case for discussion.
Court martial proceedings:
A Canadian soldier charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a wounded Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan.
Capt. Robert Semrau faced a military judge and five panel members on the murder charge and three other charges: attempting to commit murder, behaving in a disgraceful manner and negligently performing a military duty.
According to a joint statement by defence and prosecution lawyers. Semrau's troops were on patrol Oct. 19, 2008, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents in Helmand province.
His group, which included 100 Afghan National Army troops, was able to gain control. Two Taliban fighters were found: one dead, the other severely wounded.
The insurgent casualty was wounded too severely for any treatment in the field, the statement says.
Semrau was left alone with the injured man and two shots were heard, according to the statement. The statement claims an unnamed witness interviewed by military investigators will testify he saw Semrau shoot the man.
The body was left behind and not recovered.
Semrau had served three years with the British army, including deployments in Macedonia and Afghanistan, according to documents presented at his hearing.
He left with an "exemplary discharge" and joined the Canadian Forces in 2005, where his record was unblemished until the charges were laid.
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Defence & Prosecutor Arguments:
Cpl. Steven Fournier, the youngest member of Capt. Semraus mentoring team, told the court martial that he heard the captain fire two shots in the direction of the downed Taliban fighter. Capt. Semrau allegedly told him he could not have lived with himself had he left an injured human being in that condition.
Minutes later, Cpl. Fournier said, the team huddled on the battlefield and Capt. Semrau told them it had been a mercy killing.
However, Capt. Semraus second-in-command, Warrant Officer Merlin Longaphie, said no battlefield meeting took place that day and Capt. Semrau never made such a confession.
Prosecutor Lt.-Col. Mario Leveillee argued that the case had indeed been established, particularly when combined with the physical evidence. Two expended cartridge casings were recovered from the scene; a ballistics expert testified they were fired from Capt. Semraus C-8 rifle.
Defence lawyer Maj. Steven Turner, It was also unclear, he argued, whether the Taliban fighter was alive at the time of the alleged shooting, or had already died of his wounds the result of being shot from a tree by an Apache helicopter.
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Now obviously anyone can Google the case and find out what happened at the sentencing but I would think it more interesting to see if this could be debated by the Intelligentsia on Arrse.
IS there a case for a "Mercy" Killing ?
should Soldiers in Combat be held to the same Standards as a Civilian ?
Guilty or not Guilty ?
Court martial proceedings:
A Canadian soldier charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of a wounded Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan.
Capt. Robert Semrau faced a military judge and five panel members on the murder charge and three other charges: attempting to commit murder, behaving in a disgraceful manner and negligently performing a military duty.
According to a joint statement by defence and prosecution lawyers. Semrau's troops were on patrol Oct. 19, 2008, when they were ambushed by Taliban insurgents in Helmand province.
His group, which included 100 Afghan National Army troops, was able to gain control. Two Taliban fighters were found: one dead, the other severely wounded.
The insurgent casualty was wounded too severely for any treatment in the field, the statement says.
Semrau was left alone with the injured man and two shots were heard, according to the statement. The statement claims an unnamed witness interviewed by military investigators will testify he saw Semrau shoot the man.
The body was left behind and not recovered.
Semrau had served three years with the British army, including deployments in Macedonia and Afghanistan, according to documents presented at his hearing.
He left with an "exemplary discharge" and joined the Canadian Forces in 2005, where his record was unblemished until the charges were laid.
....................................................................................................................................................................
Defence & Prosecutor Arguments:
Cpl. Steven Fournier, the youngest member of Capt. Semraus mentoring team, told the court martial that he heard the captain fire two shots in the direction of the downed Taliban fighter. Capt. Semrau allegedly told him he could not have lived with himself had he left an injured human being in that condition.
Minutes later, Cpl. Fournier said, the team huddled on the battlefield and Capt. Semrau told them it had been a mercy killing.
However, Capt. Semraus second-in-command, Warrant Officer Merlin Longaphie, said no battlefield meeting took place that day and Capt. Semrau never made such a confession.
Prosecutor Lt.-Col. Mario Leveillee argued that the case had indeed been established, particularly when combined with the physical evidence. Two expended cartridge casings were recovered from the scene; a ballistics expert testified they were fired from Capt. Semraus C-8 rifle.
Defence lawyer Maj. Steven Turner, It was also unclear, he argued, whether the Taliban fighter was alive at the time of the alleged shooting, or had already died of his wounds the result of being shot from a tree by an Apache helicopter.
..................................................................................................................................................................
Now obviously anyone can Google the case and find out what happened at the sentencing but I would think it more interesting to see if this could be debated by the Intelligentsia on Arrse.
IS there a case for a "Mercy" Killing ?
should Soldiers in Combat be held to the same Standards as a Civilian ?
Guilty or not Guilty ?