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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/dec/10/royal-marines-accused-killing-afghan-prisoner
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Royal Marines accused of killing Afghan prisoner appear in court | Royal Marines accused of killing Afghan prisoner appear in court |
| (25 days later) | |
| Five Royal Marines charged with the murder of a captured Afghan national have appeared in court. | Five Royal Marines charged with the murder of a captured Afghan national have appeared in court. |
| The commandos were charged with murder following an incident believed to have happened in September last year in Afghanistan. | The commandos were charged with murder following an incident believed to have happened in September last year in Afghanistan. |
| The men – who for legal reasons can only be referred to as Marines A, B, C, D and E – attended for a plea and case management hearing at the military court centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, but the case was adjourned to 8 March. | The men – who for legal reasons can only be referred to as Marines A, B, C, D and E – attended for a plea and case management hearing at the military court centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, but the case was adjourned to 8 March. |
| The five marines sat behind a white screen in the packed courtroom as they listened to legal argument from the prosecution and defence. | The five marines sat behind a white screen in the packed courtroom as they listened to legal argument from the prosecution and defence. |
| Prosecutor David Perry told judge advocate General Jeff Blackett that there was "good reason" for the case to be adjourned. | Prosecutor David Perry told judge advocate General Jeff Blackett that there was "good reason" for the case to be adjourned. |
| Perry said: "What we would seek is a date for an effective plea and case management hearing. | Perry said: "What we would seek is a date for an effective plea and case management hearing. |
| "They [defence counsel] have not had the benefit of considering all the material. | "They [defence counsel] have not had the benefit of considering all the material. |
| "I wonder if your honour will accept from me that there is good reason they should not be arraigned. | "I wonder if your honour will accept from me that there is good reason they should not be arraigned. |
| "We are all confident if that date is fixed for the plea and case management hearing on 8 March it would be properly effective." | "We are all confident if that date is fixed for the plea and case management hearing on 8 March it would be properly effective." |
| The judge told the court he would therefore list the case for a hearing on that date. | The judge told the court he would therefore list the case for a hearing on that date. |
| The court also heard that the trial would be set for a date not before 1 September next year. | The court also heard that the trial would be set for a date not before 1 September next year. |
| After the first hearing in October, which was held behind closed doors, a judge granted the marines anonymity due to a "real and immediate risk" to the men's lives. | After the first hearing in October, which was held behind closed doors, a judge granted the marines anonymity due to a "real and immediate risk" to the men's lives. |
| Since then further orders have been granted extending the anonymity order, which will be reviewed at the conclusion of court martial proceedings. | Since then further orders have been granted extending the anonymity order, which will be reviewed at the conclusion of court martial proceedings. |
| Blackett released the marines on conditional bail. | Blackett released the marines on conditional bail. |
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