Military police charge two Royal Canadian Navy members in connection with death of sailor

Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Applin died in 2025. Photo by Mr. Neil Clarkson /Mr. Neil Clarkson, Canadian Arme

Article content

Military police have charged two members of the Royal Canadian Navy with multiple service offences as a result of an investigation into the 2025 death of Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Applin.

Article content

Applin was travelling in a rigid hull inflatable boat in Bedford Basin, near Halifax, on the evening of Jan. 24, 2025 when the boat struck a mooring buoy and capsized.

Article content

Article content

Applin and one other RCN member were rescued by a nearby vessel and transported to hospital. Applin later died.

Article content

Article content

Military police, on April 15, laid charges in relation to the incident. Master Sailor David Terry, serving on HMCS Montréal at the time of the alleged offences, is charged with one count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm, under section 130 of the National Defence Act (NDA) and one count of negligent performance of military duties under section 124 of the NDA.

Article content

Sailor First Class Alexandre Garrison, from Naval Fleet School (Atlantic) at the time of the alleged offences, is charged with one count of dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, under section 130 of the NDA and one count of negligent performance of military duties under section 124 of the NDA.

Article content

“As with all judicial proceedings, the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the Canadian Forces noted in a news release.

Article content

Military police provided Applin’s family with an update on the situation.

Article content

“The Military Police extend their condolences to the family, friends, and shipmates of Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Applin,” Brig.-Gen. Vanessa Hanrahan, Canadian Forces Provost Marshal, said in a statement.

Article content

Article content

The military police investigation into the death of Applin has now concluded.

Article content

Article content

“Should the charges laid proceed to prosecution, they will be tried in the military justice system,” the Canadian Forces noted in a news release on April 15. “To protect the integrity of future judicial proceedings and/or decisions, no further information on details or evidence relating to the case will be provided.”

Article content

Navy commander Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Chief Petty Officer First Class Pascal Harel, the Command Chief Petty Officer Royal Canadian Navy, issued a joint statement on April 15, responding to the announcement that charges had been laid.

Article content

“There is no doubt that this is difficult news for all of us, and it highlights the challenging realities of our service in the Royal Canadian Navy,” the statement noted. “We operate in a demanding environment where mistakes and errors can have fatal consequences, and we must be accountable for our actions and our inactions.”

Article content

Topshee and Harel noted that, “There will be a fair, independent and impartial process to determine the outcome of these charges and those accused deserve every opportunity to defend themselves. We are also extremely mindful that an incident like this almost never results from a single cause or single error, and it is most likely the outcome of a combination of factors.”

Article content

David Pugliese is an award-winning journalist covering Canadian Forces and military issues in Canada. To support his work, including exclusive content for subscribers only, sign up here: ottawacitizen.com/subscribe

Article content

Article content