Future dire for service member

A young Canadian Soldier may be receiving a sentence of up to life in prison, due to his impending Court Martial. The decision to take such a severe and intimidating course of action was made by acting head of military prosecutions in Canada, Lt.-Col. Bruce MacGregor, and was based upon three main criteria:

1. The severity of the crime itself (In this case, the accidental shooting death of Cpl. Kevin Megeny in 2007 in Kandahar)

2. The degree and tone of public interest surrounding the offense in question.

3. The amount of evidence available: Essentially, ‘do we have enough for a conviction?’

So, despite the previous assertion that this shooting was ‘an accident’, a 22 year old may potentially lose his constitutional freedoms for the rest of his life. Objectively, and as a legal studies student, I understand the responsibility of the correctional systems to uphold the laws, as deterrents and incentives to our citizens. But personally, I think these measures are harsh and unsympathetic, and I am deeply saddened by them.

Having lived in a military environment, and heard the stories of the soldiers who have sacrificed so much to brave the front lines of war for their country, I know that the dynamic from regular civilian life is shifted dramatically. Pressure, tension, and stress levels are all exceedingly high. Mistakes are wont to happen. It is incredibly disastrous that in this case, the mistake was fatal – and my sincere, and heartfelt regrets go out to the Megeny family. However, these men are working with heavy artillery. They know the risks, and they know the dangers. There are *no* failsafe, 100% preventions. Would we have war at all if this were the case?


Incidents like this simply go to augment my support for the 490 Billion dollar funding being given to our military. Yes, prevention, training, and enlistment must all rise, so that we’re not left with situations in which young, perhaps inadequately trained soldiers are operating on little sleep with fatal weaponry. Could this disaster have been prevented? Probably.

But could it have happened to anyone? Probably.


I hope that this is taken into account during the Court Martial of Cpl. Matthew Wilcox.
Some may disagree, citing the threat of incarceration as a veritable tool to keep vigilant when undertaking a job so treacherous; but the family of Cpl. Megeny does not wish charges to be pressed against the young man. There are also the actual legal problems of circumstantial evidence being the extent of proof held by the Department of Defense. But, maybe they have something up their sleeve.


Truly though, I think there can be no worse punishment for the soldier than the intense guilt he will no doubt be bearing for the rest of his life.

(http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/07/21/megeny-death.html)