Canadian soldier cleared over checkpoint death

Military police today said a Canadian soldier who shot and killed an Afghan civilian at a checkpoint in Kandahar acted lawfully and will not face charges.

The soldier involved in the shooting and the victim’s family provided drastically conflicting accounts of the death of Nasrat Ali Hassan on March 14 at the checkpoint in the southern Afghan city.

Hassan’s widow and son say he received no warning to stop before a Canadian soldier fired several shots at the motorised rickshaw he was riding in as he approached the checkpoint.

Canadian commanders rejected that claim.

Canadian and Afghan investigators working in Kandahar say the soldier involved acted lawfully and used appropriate force given the risk faced by troops in Afghanistan.

Afghans are warned through signs and radio ads to avoid military trucks and armoured vehicles because of the threat of suicide attacks.

Suicide bombers have targeted Canadian military vehicles in the country several times.