OTTAWA—A General Court Martial delivered its verdict yesterday in the case of a retired Canadian Armed Forces member who faced six service charges in in relation to the death of Corporal Joshua Baker and the injury of four other soldiers on a training range in Afghanistan, in February 2010.
Warrant Officer (Ret) Ravensdale was found guilty of the following:
- Second charge – breach of duty with respect to explosives causing the death of Corporal Joshua Baker;
- Third charge – breach of duty with respect to explosives causing bodily harm to four subordinates;
- Fourth charge – unlawfully causing bodily harm to four subordinates; and
- Fifth charge – negligent performance of duty (by giving the order to fire the C-19 without ensuring all persons were either under cover or out of the danger area).
Warrant Officer (Ret) Ravensdale was acquitted of the following charges:
- First charge – manslaughter; and
- Sixth charge – negligent performance of duty (by permitting subordinates to train on live C-19s without conducting dry training).
General Court Martial proceedings against Warrant Officer (Ret) Ravensdale began on January 28, 2013, at Canadian Forces Base Shilo, Manitoba, and were presided over by Colonel Mario Dutil, Chief Military Judge. Sentencing is scheduled to begin on March 4, 2013, at Canadian Forces Base Shilo.
At the time of the incident, Warrant Officer (Ret) Ravensdale was the platoon second-in-command and was in charge of a range practice involving the Defensive Command Detonated Weapon C-19. It was alleged that range safety procedures were violated in relation to the planning and execution of activities on the range that day.
In relation to the same incident, Captain (then Major) Lunney pleaded guilty to negligent performance of a military duty at a court martial on September 13, 2012. He was sentenced to a reduction in rank to Captain and a severe reprimand. Major Darryl Watts was also charged in relation to the same incident and faced the same charges as Warrant Officer (Ret) Ravensdale. A December 4, 2012, court martial found Major Watts not guilty of the charges of manslaughter and breach of duty, and guilty of the charges of unlawfully causing bodily harm and negligent performance of a military duty. His sentencing will take place on February 20, 2013, in Calgary, Alberta.
-30-
