SHILO, Manitoba, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Charges against a Canadian soldier accused of killing a fellow soldier in Afghanistan were dropped Tuesday when evidence showed it could have been accidental.
Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser was facing a court martial in Shilo, Manitoba, on charges of manslaughter and negligence in the performance of military duty in the Aug. 9, 2006, shooting death of Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh.
Walsh was fatally wounded outside Kandahar while they were inside a military vehicle.
Fraser's attorneys argued Walsh was shot accidentally when one gun laying on top of another caused it to go off, CTV News reported. A ballistics report also raised reasonable doubt that Fraser had pulled the trigger or that he was holding the gun when it discharged, the network said.
The report showed Fraser had not gunfire residue on his hands.
CTV reported the two men were close friends and Walsh's family believed his death was a tragic accident. Walsh's widow hugged Fraser after the ruling was announced.
