Pvt. Ashley Baker's Commander denies knowing he was suicidal

Commanding officer denies knowing soldier was suicidal
Posted Tue Mar 11, 2008 8:50pm AEDT

The commanding officer of the battalion of an Australian soldier who killed himself in East Timor last year has denied the Army knew he was suicidal.

Major Richard Niessl this afternoon told a military inquiry into Private Ashley Baker's death that he displayed no signs of being mentally unstable or depressed.

Major Niessl's comments were in response to earlier evidence that suggested the Army held concerns about Private Baker's state of mind before he was deployed to East Timor.

Major Niessl said Private Baker was not struggling in the Army and was a soldier with potential and was always cheerful.

He said if any soldier showed signs of mental illness they would not be deployed for duty or would be sent home from operations.

The inquiry continues tomorrow.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/03/11/2186872.htm?section=australia