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| Wife of marine jailed for killing Taliban fighter 'optimistic' of appeal | Wife of marine jailed for killing Taliban fighter 'optimistic' of appeal |
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| The wife of a Royal Marine jailed for murder after shooting a wounded Taliban fighter said she was “cautiously optimistic” that new evidence would lead to his case being sent back to the court of appeal. | The wife of a Royal Marine jailed for murder after shooting a wounded Taliban fighter said she was “cautiously optimistic” that new evidence would lead to his case being sent back to the court of appeal. |
| She said: “It’s a strong application. There are a considerable number of new points of evidence or evidence of flaws in the original case, so we’re cautiously optimistic.” | She said: “It’s a strong application. There are a considerable number of new points of evidence or evidence of flaws in the original case, so we’re cautiously optimistic.” |
| Claire Blackman, 44, was speaking at a rally in Birmingham, where the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) offices are based. | Claire Blackman, 44, was speaking at a rally in Birmingham, where the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) offices are based. |
| Organisers estimated that about 200 people – mainly veterans – gathered in Birmingham’s Eastside park in a public show of support for Sgt Alexander Blackman. The author, Frederick Forsyth, a vocal supporter of the marine, was also present. | |
| Blackman was found guilty in November 2013 of murdering an Afghan man in Helmand in 2011 by firing a pistol into his chest as he lay helpless after being wounded by helicopter fire. | Blackman was found guilty in November 2013 of murdering an Afghan man in Helmand in 2011 by firing a pistol into his chest as he lay helpless after being wounded by helicopter fire. |
| Related: Royal Marine's life term for murdering injured Taliban fighter 'a fix-up' | Related: Royal Marine's life term for murdering injured Taliban fighter 'a fix-up' |
| The incident was recorded by chance on a head camera worn by another marine on his patrol. Blackman was seen telling his victim: “Shuffle off this mortal coil, you cunt. It’s nothing you wouldn’t do to us.” | The incident was recorded by chance on a head camera worn by another marine on his patrol. Blackman was seen telling his victim: “Shuffle off this mortal coil, you cunt. It’s nothing you wouldn’t do to us.” |
| During his court martial in Wiltshire, Blackman said he had believed the man was already dead when he opened fire, and he had fired in frustration towards the end of a hard tour during which close colleagues had been killed. | During his court martial in Wiltshire, Blackman said he had believed the man was already dead when he opened fire, and he had fired in frustration towards the end of a hard tour during which close colleagues had been killed. |
| But the board that heard the case jailed him for life in a civilian prison and ordered his dismissal from the armed forces. | But the board that heard the case jailed him for life in a civilian prison and ordered his dismissal from the armed forces. |
| The judge advocate general, Jeff Blackett, said Blackman had to be dealt with severely to show the international community that battlefield crimes committed by UK troops would not be tolerated. | The judge advocate general, Jeff Blackett, said Blackman had to be dealt with severely to show the international community that battlefield crimes committed by UK troops would not be tolerated. |
| As soon as he was sentenced, Blackman’s wife said his sentence was too severe and she highlighted the mental tension he had been under during the tour. She said he had opened fire in a moment of madness. | As soon as he was sentenced, Blackman’s wife said his sentence was too severe and she highlighted the mental tension he had been under during the tour. She said he had opened fire in a moment of madness. |
| In recent months the Daily Mail has launched a campaign supporting her. Mail readers raised more than £800,000 to pay for a new legal team. This team produced the seven-volume report that petitions the CCRC to send the case back to the court of appeal. | In recent months the Daily Mail has launched a campaign supporting her. Mail readers raised more than £800,000 to pay for a new legal team. This team produced the seven-volume report that petitions the CCRC to send the case back to the court of appeal. |
| The main basis is understood to be that the lesser verdict of manslaughter was not offered by the judge to the panel at the original court martial. The new team argues there was a wealth of evidence to show Blackman was suffering from a combat stress disorder. | The main basis is understood to be that the lesser verdict of manslaughter was not offered by the judge to the panel at the original court martial. The new team argues there was a wealth of evidence to show Blackman was suffering from a combat stress disorder. |
| The case has already been subject to one appeal. In May 2014, Blackman asked three of the country’s most senior judges to overturn what he claimed was an unsafe conviction. | The case has already been subject to one appeal. In May 2014, Blackman asked three of the country’s most senior judges to overturn what he claimed was an unsafe conviction. |
| Sitting at a court martial appeal court in London, the lord chief justice, Lord Thomas, Sir Brian Leveson and Lady Justice Hallett reduced the length of time Blackman must serve before being considered for parole from 10 years to eight. But they rejected the appeal against his conviction. | Sitting at a court martial appeal court in London, the lord chief justice, Lord Thomas, Sir Brian Leveson and Lady Justice Hallett reduced the length of time Blackman must serve before being considered for parole from 10 years to eight. But they rejected the appeal against his conviction. |