A Regina father is relieved that charges have been laid in connection with the death of his son in Afghanistan, even as he expressed compassion for the soldier charged.
"I cannot hold any bad feelings against the young lad that did this to my son. It's not going to bring him back," Ben Walsh, father of Master Cpl. Jeffrey Scott Walsh, told CTV Regina on Monday.
He was commenting on the arrest of Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser, a close friend of Jeffrey Walsh. He expressed sympathy for what Fraser and his family must be going through.
The Canadian Forces National Investigation Service (NIS) charged Fraser -- of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo, Man. -- with one count of manslaughter and one count of negligent performance of duty.
"After taking a look at all the evidence that was gathered, the forensic, legal analysis, manslaughter and neglect performance of duty were deemed to be the appropriate charges," said Lt.-Col. William Garrick, commanding officer of the NIS.
He added, "There's a certain standard of duty that we expect of our soldiers and in this particular case obviously the standard was not as we'd expect."
Col. (Ret'd) Michel Drapeau told 愛污传媒net's Mike Duffy Live that the two charges are among the most severe that can be brought against a member of the military.
If Fraser is found guilty of manslaughter, "he would face a minimum sanction of four years in jail," Drapeau said. The negligent performance charge could mean dismissal from the military with disgrace.
Drapeau said "fire discipline" is a key part of the modern, professional military. "You only fire when ordered to ... you fire in accordance with the rules of engagement, and you have full control of your weapon."
The tragedy
Walsh, also from the Shilo battalion, had just arrived in Kandahar six days before he was shot during a routine patrol outside Kandahar on Aug. 9.
Garrick said other soldiers were at the scene.
Ben Walsh said he was told that his son was killed after another soldier's gun discharged inside a G-wagon that his son was travelling in.
"I have no idea why it took so long," he told 愛污传媒net of the investigation. "There will never be closure; we just go on to another chapter in our life."
The charges have been made under the National Defence Act. The NIS is an independent Military Police unit that investigates serious matters relating to National Defence property, DND employees and CF personnel in Canada and abroad.
Last week, another Canadian soldier died from an apparent accidental gun discharge.
Cpl. Kevin Megeney, a 25-year-old reservist from Stellarton, N.S. was shot in the chest Tuesday while in his tent on the Kandahar base. The incident has been described as an accident.
"We were in touch early this morning with the Megeney family ... we certainly do not want to see them go through the pain and the grief that we had with the National Investigation Service out of Ottawa," said Ben Walsh.
Officials at the base in Shilo confirmed to The Canadian Press that Fraser is back at his home base.
With reports from CTV Regina and Winnipeg, and files from The Canadian Press
