NR–11.080 - July 14, 2011
OTTAWA – Standing Court Martial proceedings will begin July 21, 2011,for retired Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard in relation to charges of inappropriate conduct. The charges were initially laid in July 2010 following allegations made in May 2010 while he was the Canadian Forces Task Force Commander in Afghanistan.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Ménard will be tried by Standing Court Martial at the Régiment de Maisonneuve, 691 Cathcart Street, Montréal at 9:30 a.m. on July 21. The Presiding Military Judge will be Lieutenant-Colonel Louis-Vincent d'Auteuil.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Ménard has been charged with two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline contrary to section 129 of the National Defence Act.
The first charge relates to his alleged inappropriate conduct by engaging in an intimate personal relationship with another member of the Task Force at Kandahar Airfield contrary to Theatre Standing Orders. The second charge relates to alleged attempts by the accused to hinder efforts to find out the facts about that relationship.
These charges replace the charges preferred in November 2010, which were consequently withdrawn in the exercise of prosecutorial discretion by the Director of Military Prosecutions.
Standing Courts Martial are presided over by a Military Judge responsible for the finding on the charges and the imposing of a sentence if the accused is found guilty.
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NOTE TO THE EDITOR/ NEWS DIRECTOR:
The charges as laid in July 2010 can be found here: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3458
The charges as preferred in November 2010 can be found here: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/news-nouvelles/news-nouvelles-eng.asp?id=3649
As the matter is before a service tribunal, it would be inappropriate to comment further about the circumstances surrounding this case. Please note the hearing will be open to media and the public, however, electronic recording devices and photographic equipment will not be allowed within the courtroom.
Any further questions should be directed to the Media Liaison Office in Ottawa at 1-866-377-0811.
