Marine A, who killed wounded Taliban fighter, released from prison

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/apr/28/marine-a-alexander-blackman-released-from-prison

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Alexander Blackman, the Royal Marine sergeant jailed for killing a wounded Taliban fighter, spent a “relaxing” first day of liberty after serving three and a half years in prison.

Blackman – known as Marine A during his original court martial – and his wife, Claire, were whisked away to a country hideaway after he was smuggled from prison in Wiltshire hiding under a blanket in the back of a police car.

Friends and supporters who campaigned tirelessly for his release said he would need time to readjust to a new life both out of prison and out of the marines.

But it also emerged that his lawyer, Jonathan Goldberg QC, has been in Hollywood talking to a producer about the possibility of a film being made about the Marine A saga.

The barrister said there was talk of Blackman being played by Tom Hardy, Claire Blackman by Kate Winslet and Goldberg himself by Al Pacino.

I'm at Erlestoke Prison where Royal Marine Sgt Alexander Blackman was released at 12.18am. He was driven away in an unmarked police car pic.twitter.com/3LkdL9MH1Y

Blackman was convicted in 2013 of murdering a Taliban prisoner while on tour in Helmand province in Afghanistan and jailed for life. After a campaign led by his wife and taken up by the Daily Mail, the conviction was quashed when the court martial appeal court ruled he had been suffering from a mental disorder at the time of the shooting in 2011. His conviction was replaced with manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility and his sentence reduced from life to seven years.

Blackman has spent the final weeks of his time in prison planning his future outside – he has been dismissed from the marines – and handing over the reins at the library, where he worked.

He has had job offers in the security industry and may write a book about his experiences – he is said to have found a talent for writing while in jail. It has emerged that while in prison Blackman wrote a children’s book about a cuddly mole and may try to get it published.

As well as looking forward to being reunited with family and friends, he is understood to be keen to play a round of golf.

Blackman is still entitled to a military pension and supporters have raised money to help him and his wife set themselves up.

Some of those close to the family played down the idea of a Hollywood film. The documentary maker and honorary marine Chris Terrill, who has become close to the Blackmans, said: “They are very relaxed enjoying some time with each other. There’s a lot of pressure and media interest. Now is the time to let them be for a little while.

“It is going to be a difficult transition. Al hasn’t been a civilian for many years.” Terrill also said there would also be a time of readjustment for husband and wife. “I was joking with Claire that they’ll have to work out who is going to control the television zapper.”

Terrill said Blackman had had no shortage of job offers and felt he may well end up in some sort of security post, but he said he had also discovered new talents while in prison.

He said the idea of a Hollywood film with a star-studded cast was “fanciful”, adding: “This is not the time to be talking about Hollywood blockbusters. It’s a great time for the Blackmans, but it’s a very serious time, too.”

He said it was worth remembering the man Blackman had killed. “He was someone’s son, brother, possibly husband.”

Blackman felt shame and guilt over what he did, Terrill said. “He’s guilty of an illegal killing. He says: ‘If I could turn back time and undo what I did, I would’.”

Speaking to the Daily Mail while awaiting her husband’s release, Claire Blackman said: “I haven’t slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time. I can’t wait to see him and spend some quality time together.”

Life will never be the same for the Blackmans. The Guardian revealed last month that police had warned them they could be terrorist targets and they have been advised to take a series of precautions including changing their identities and moving house.

Blackman’s supporters will celebrate his release over the bank holiday weekend. The Justice for Marine A Facebook page announced simply: “We are extremely pleased to announce that Al has been released and is in a safe/private location with Claire.”

The idea of film and book deals will cause anxiety within the Ministry of Defence, but there was no official comment on them.

A spokesperson said: “We have fully cooperated with each stage of Sgt Blackman’s case, which has now involved a criminal investigation, a court martial and the appeal process, and will continue to provide personal support to the family, as we have done since charges were first brought.”