Two months ago, a military court-martial convicted Capt. Robert Semrau of “disgraceful conduct” for shooting a wounded, unarmed Taliban fighter in Afghanistan. The 36-year-old Saskatoon native, who is staring at a potential five-year prison term, was supposed to be sentenced tomorrow morning. But the Department of National Defence announced this afternoon that the much-anticipated hearing has been postponed for two weeks, until Sept. 21, because the judge is unavailable for “medical reasons.” Semrau was the first Canadian soldier ever charged with homicide in a war zone, but a four-man jury of his peers found him not guilty on the three most serious charges he faced: second-degree murder, attempted murder, and negligent performance of a military duty. Along with potential jail time, the disgraceful conduct conviction could be the end of his career in the army.
General
Capt. Robert Semrau’s sentencing postponed
Canadian soldier convicted of shooting a wounded Taliban fighter will learn his fate Sept. 21
FILED UNDER: military