Retired soldier avoids jail in fatal Afghanistan training accident

SHILO, Man. – A retired soldier who led a deadly training exercise in Afghanistan has avoided jail.

A court martial judge has given former warrant officer Paul Ravensdale a six-month suspended sentence, has fined him $2,000 and demoted him to sergeant.

The military judge in Shilo, Man., says Ravensdale was put in a terrible situation by the chain of command.

Ravensdale was leading a test of anti-personnel mines near Kandahar city three years ago when one misfired and shot hundreds of steel ball bearings in the wrong direction.

Cpl. Josh Baker was killed and four other soldiers were injured.

Ravensdale, who was responsible for safety on the range that day, was convicted on four charges, including breach of duty causing death.