A Canadian soldier will face a military trial on charges relating to the shooting death of a fellow soldier in Afghanistan/>/> last year.

Master Cpl. Robbie Fraser is charged with one count of manslaughter and one count of negligent performance of duty in the death of Master Cpl. Jeffrey Walsh.

The  confirmed the news of 30-year-old Cpl. Fraser's trial in a brief statement Friday.

Walsh, 33, had just arrived in Kandahar/> six days before he was shot during a routine patrol outside Kandahar/>/> on Aug. 9, 2006.

Walsh was killed after another soldier's gun discharged inside a G-wagon they were travelling in.

Walsh was a member of the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo/>, Man./>/>

Cpl. Fraser's father said putting his son (who is currently away on a training course) on trial will send a chill through the Canadian military.

"To me it's not sending a good message to the troops," Kevin Fraser told CTV Atlantic.

 "It's not sending a good message to anyone thinking of joining the troops. It's definitely not putting a positive light on Afghanistan/>/>."

He added his son will have to carry the burden of his best friend's death for the rest of his life, regardless of any trial.

The CFNIS said in the press release that two main issues are considered when military prosecutors decide whether to prosecute a charge at court martial.

  • Whether the evidence is sufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction
  • Whether the public interest requires a prosecution be pursued.

At the time the charges were first laid in March, Col. (Ret'd) Michel Drapeau told 麻豆影视net's Mike Duffy Live that the two charges are among the most severe that can be brought against a member of the military.

If Fraser is found guilty of manslaughter, "he would face a minimum sanction of four years in jail," Drapeau said. The negligent performance charge could mean dismissal from the military with disgrace.