The Trial of Robert Semrau

A Canadian soldier faced a court martial on Monday (January 25), after being accused of the murder of a wounded, unarmed Taliban fighter in sounther Afghanistan. Capt. Robert Semrau was charged with second degree murder in the battlefield killing.
A joint “synopsis” of the Afghan incident, filed in court last year, states Semrau was mentoring an Afghan National Army unit under British command when they were ambushed in the Nad Ali district. A U.S. Apache helicopter was called in and sprayed the area with cannon fire. When the Afghans and Canadians swept the district afterwards they discovered one dead insurgent and another with wounds “too severe for any type of treatment” in the field. The document goes on to say that an assault rifle was taken from the wounded man before Semrau was allegedly seen firing his rifle at him. Two shots were heard. The battalion moved on and the dead body was never recovered.

In past wars and conflicts ther have been other incidents of battlefield executions including several well-known cases in Korea, and a number of stories concerning German prisoners being killed in retaliation for the murders of Canadian troops by the SS in the aftermath of D-Day. None have led to murder charges before.

A group on facebook has been created for Capt Semrau, that believes the soldier is merely a scapegoat.
“Capt. Robert Semrau, a comrade and a friend, is being wrongfully charged with the death of a presumed Afghani insurgent during a fire fight with Taliban forces,” wrote the page creator Stuart McMahon. “In a land of misery, fear and an unknown enemy our men and women fight for our freedom. We cannot begin to understand the stress our troops undergo everyday in Afghanistan. I have been honoured to have known Capt. Robert Semrau. During my time spent in the Canadian Armed Forces I have worked alongside Robert and was graced with his companionship, understanding and leadership that he sufficiently gave to every soldier under his command.”

Other arguments that can be made for Capt. Semrau would be that the Afghan insurgent was suffering and Semrau was only putting him out of his misery. Nevertheless Canadian and international law does not recognize mercy killings and it's unlikely that it would stand up as a defence.


Personally the article makes me feel a little sick. I understand that war is necessary though many wish that wasn't the case, but I think it is also imperative that unnecessary deaths be avoided at all costs. A soldier needs to think rationally at all times, and not let emotions interfere. Wars are not an individual class matter. They are not fought for revenge of so-and-so's death or to gain the pride of one person. They were once a largely domestic matter, and now are largely systemic. Conflicts are over laws, values and moral issues. Fighting is done in order to protect those who cannot protect themselves. I believe that Capt. Semrau brought his emotions into the matter, and should not have.Whether it was to perform a mercy killing, or simply to rid the world of another enemy, the reason is irrelevant. There is no justifiable reason that could make the insurgents death necessary. He was unarmed, and wounded. He posed no threat to Capt. Semrau.

And that's the view from the north.



Do you agree with the scores of facebook members that stand behind him? Or do you believe he should be found guilty of second degree murder?

I'll try to post the results of the court martial when and if they are made public.


To read the article:
Cdn Soldier Accused of Battlefield Execution