Soldier says 'all hell broke loose' in training tragedy
The Canadian Press
Posted: Jan 29, 2013 12:14 PM CST
Last Updated: Jan 29, 2013 12:13 PM CST
A Manitoba soldier charged in a deadly training accident told investigators he didn't feel he did anything wrong.
A court martial at CFB Shilo for retired warrant officer Paul Ravensdale has heard a recorded interview he gave military personnel three days after the accident on a weapons range in Afghanistan.
A platoon was testing anti-personnel mines in February 2010 when one mine misfired and shot steel balls backwards toward the soldiers.
Cpl. Josh Baker died and four soldiers were injured.
In the interview, Ravensdale tells a military investigator he has no idea what went wrong and that "all hell broke loose."
Ravensdale is accused of manslaughter, unlawfully causing bodily harm, two counts of breach of duty and two counts of negligence.
Prosecutors allege he ignored safety rules and allowed soldiers to stand near the landmine without protection. Ravensdale was the officer in charge at the time of the incident.
He told the investigator he had instructed soldiers to stand 50 metres back and behind light armoured vehicles. Two other soldiers have already been convicted in the accident.
Maj. Christopher Lunney has been demoted to captain and given a severe reprimand after pleading guilty to negligent performance of duty in the incident.
Maj. Darryl Watts, is awaiting sentencing on charges of negligence and unlawfully causing bodily harm.
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