Retired officer faces court martial at CFB Shilo

A retired Canadian Forces officer has pleaded not guilty to six charges stemming from a deadly training accident in Afghanistan.

Paul Ravensdale is accused of manslaughter, unlawfully causing bodily harm, two counts of breach of duty and two counts of negligence.

He is charged in a February 2010accident that injured four soldiers and killed Cpl. Josh Baker, 24, during a training exercise. Ravensdale was the officer in charge at the time of the incident.

Ravensdale, whoappeared in civilian clothes on Monday at his court martial at CFBShilo, near Brandon, Man.,said "not guilty, your honour" to each of the six charges.

The court martial is expected to last three weeks.

Three officers were originally charged in connection with the blast.

Maj. Darryl Watts was found not guilty of manslaughter and two counts of breach of duty, but hewas convicted of unlawfully causing bodily harm and negligent performance of military duty.

Watts is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

'Entirely preventable,' say prosecutors

It isalleged that Ravensdale violated a number of safety procedures prior to the explosion.

Prosecutors tolda military judge and five panel members that Ravensdale did not intend to kill or wound anyone, but the incident was "entirely foreseeable and entirely preventable."

A Department of National Defence video of the incident shows several soldiers standing around, watching the test.

Military rules require soldiers to be inside or behind armoured vehicles.

Capt. Christopher Lunney testified on Monday that he allowed Ravensdale to test-fire the mines after he was assured that soldiers would be behind cover.

Lunney, who was demoted as a result of the incident, admitted that it was his mistake for not checking.