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The U.S. pilot who mistakenly bombed Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan last year has turned down an air force offer of lesser charges and will face a court martial.

It's a high-stakes gamble for Maj. Harry Schmidt. He could be exonerated of the charges he faces or end up with a prison term of up to 64 years.

A military spokesperson confirmed the air force had accepted Schmidt's request, but had not set a date for the trial.

"Maj. Schmidt's trial date has not yet been established. The Air Force Trial Judiciary's Central Circuit will assign a trial judge and a trial date in the near future," said a statement from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana.

Last week, an air force officer who reviewed the case recommended against court martial for Schmidt and Maj. William Umbach, the other pilot involved in the bombing.

FROM JUNE 19, 2003: 'Friendly fire' pilots won't be court-martialed

Schmidt dropped a 225-kilogram bomb on a group of Canadian soldiers in April 2002, killing four of them and injuring eight others.

His lawyers said Wednesday Schmidt wants the military trial to address the more serious charges he was facing.

"It is clear that I cannot and will not receive a full and fair hearing" in a non-judicial hearing known as an Article 15, Schmidt said in a statement.

"Therefore I am compelled to refuse punishment under Article 15 and demand trial by court martial," he said.

If found guilty on the most serious possible charges – aggravated assault, involuntary manslaughter and dereliction of duty – Schmidt could face up to 64 years in prison.

Schmidt's other option was a non-judicial hearing on charges of dereliction of duty. The hearing could have tarnished his record and ended his career.

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"The degenerative and loony should never be denigrated but, rather, thanked. In their absence, the rest of you would be obliged to fill congressional seats... positions naturally unsavory to the sane and honorable."

Thorax