A military panel found Maj. Darryl Watts guilty of unlawfully causing bodily harm and two charges of negligent performance of military duty, but acquitted him of manslaughter at at Mewata Armouries in Calgary on Tuesday Dec 4, 2012. Darren Makowichuk/QMI AGENCY
CALGARY – Saying the jail term sought by the prosecution was too harsh, a court martial judge instead reduced Maj. Darryl Watts' rank Wednesday to lieutenant, for his role in a deadly training exercise in Afghanistan.
Cmdr. Peter Lamont said while their roles were different, Watts' punishment should be similar to that given his then commanding officer for his part in the Feb. 12, 2010, drill which killed Edmonton Cpl. Joshua Baker.
Baker died and four other Canadian soldiers were injured when a C19 mine backfired during a firing range in the desert northeast of Kandahar city.
Watts was convicted last year of three charges, including unlawfully causing bodily harm for not ensuring his troops had taken proper cover.
