Canadian Soldier who beat babies blames war zone stress

Soldier who beat babies blames war zone stress
Mike McIntyre, Winnipeg Free Press
Published: Monday, June 23
WINNIPEG - A Canadian soldier was suffering from a serious mental disorder caused by several factors - including his time spent in Afghanistan - when he repeatedly assaulted his six-month-old triplet sons, a Winnipeg court heard Monday.

Psychologist David Kolton submitted a 21-page report to the court providing a detailed look into the mind of the 25-year-old father, who has pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily harm.

Provincial court Judge Marvin Garfinkel is expected to sentence the man Tuesday afternoon. He is seeking time served - nine months - plus probation, while the Crown wants him to serve an additional 18 months behind bars.


Defence lawyer Rod Brecht told the court Monday his client didn't intend to inflict pain on his baby boys and was actually stunned to see the extent of their injuries.

The tiny victims were suffering from a total of 19 broken bones when they were taken to hospital last September. They have since recovered.

The father - a Winnipeg-based soldier who can't be named to protect the children's identities - was already dealing with a number of difficult personal issues when he joined the military in 2001, including being abandoned by his own father at a young age, court was told.

He was deployed to Kandahar in 2006 for a 3 1/2-month tour and came back a much different person, said Kolton, psychologist.

The soldier's job was to load equipment on to military planes and trucks and he became extremely frustrated by the lack of front-line action he saw.

That resulted in various run-ins with authority during which his explosive temper quickly took over.

"I wanted to get out there and do something. I knew many of the infantry . . . I could see it in their eyes that they expected more from me. I felt helpless," he told Kolton.

He also got into trouble during a sidetrip to Budapest in which he claims to have been drugged in a bar, beaten and robbed.
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Suicide by cop in Canada

Ex-soldier had pellet gun when shot by police: report
Taser used but ineffective in incident

Bruce Owen, Winnipeg Free Press
Published: Wednesday, December 19, 2007


WINNIPEG -- A man shot to death by Winnipeg police this week spent two decades with the Canadian military, but was discharged in 2004 because of anger management issues, the Winnipeg Free Press learned Wednesday.

Roy Thomas Bell, 42, was shot and killed behind a city apartment building Monday night in an incident some residents have described as "suicide by cop."

A family acquaintance told the Free Press the distraught man confronted police carrying a pellet gun that closely resembled a real firearm.

Witnesses say Mr. Bell ignored repeated demands from two officers to drop the replica pistol and, at one point, dared officers to shoot him.

Mr. Bell served more than 23 years in the 17 Wing post office at CFB Winnipeg, but was discharged three years ago when the military deemed he was unfit for active duty overseas, a family acquaintance said Wednesday.

There have been several reports of disturbing incidents involving Winnipeg soldiers recently.

In August, a Winnipeg soldier who served in Kandahar for two months last year was charged in with seriously assaulting his six-month old triplet sons.
One of the babies suffered fractured ribs, a punctured lung and contusions to his liver.
The 24-year-old soldier cannot be named because Child and Family Services has removed the children.

Another former Canadian soldier is still behind bars after allegedly trying to contact a teenage girl he was accused of sexually assaulting.
Roger Borsch, 35, made national headlines last year after becoming the first soldier to successfully use post-traumatic stress disorder as a defence.
Mr. Borsch admitted to breaking into a co-worker's home in 2004 and sexually assaulting her 13-year-old daughter at knifepoint.
He claimed his mind had been affected by horrific killings he said he witnessed a decade earlier in Bosnia.
However the not-guilty verdict was later overturned on appeal and a new trial has been ordered.

Winnipeg Free Press


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