OTTAWA – General Court Martial proceedings will begin January 25, 2010, at the Asticou Centre in Gatineau, Québec, for Captain Robert Semrau in relation to the shooting death of a wounded insurgent that occurred in Afghanistan in October 2008.
Captain Semrau is currently serving as a staff officer with the 3rd Battalion, the Royal Canadian Regiment, at CFB Petawawa. He shall be tried by a General Court Martial, which is composed of a Military Judge and a panel of five military members. The military judge for this public hearing will be Colonel Mario Dutil.
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The charge sheet can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.jmc-cmj.forces.gc.ca/ccm-cmc/fca-cs/doc/semrau.pdf
As the matter is before a service tribunal it would be inappropriate to comment further about the circumstances surrounding this case at this time. Please note, however, that the hearing is open to the media and the public and will take place at the following location:
Room 2601 (courtroom), Block 2600
Asticou Centre
241 de la Cité-des-Jeunes Boulevard
Gatineau, Québec
Any media interested in attending the court martial are asked to click on the following link to register your attendance:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/media/contact-eng.asp
Any further questions, please contact the Media Liaison Office in Ottawa at 1-866-377-0811. Electronic recording devices and photographic equipment are not allowed within the court room.
Colonel Mario Dutil’s Biography, military judge, can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.cmp-cpm.forces.gc.ca/dsa-dns/sa-ns/ab/sobv-vbos-eng.asp?maction=view&mbiographyid=710
Charge Laid Relating to Death of Presumed Insurgent
News Release January 2, 2009:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/view-news-afficher-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=2840
Custody hearing to take place for charged Canadian Forces member
Media Advisory January 5, 2009:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/view-news-afficher-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=2841
Canadian Forces Officer to Face General Court Martial
News Release September 18, 2009:
http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/view-news-afficher-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3118
The custody hearing transcript from January 7, 2009, can be accessed by clicking on the following link:
http://www.jmc-cmj.forces.gc.ca/dec/2009/doc/Semrau%20Decision-CRH-eng.pdf
