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| SAS sniper Danny Nightingale to face retrial | SAS sniper Danny Nightingale to face retrial |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| An SAS sniper who was charged with illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition is to face a retrial. | An SAS sniper who was charged with illegally possessing a pistol and ammunition is to face a retrial. |
| Sgt Danny Nightingale, from Crewe, had denied illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol and ammunition at his court martial in November. | Sgt Danny Nightingale, from Crewe, had denied illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol and ammunition at his court martial in November. |
| His military detention sentence was overturned at the Court of Appeal in March. | His military detention sentence was overturned at the Court of Appeal in March. |
| A judge ordered the retrial at a hearing at the Military Court Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire. | A judge ordered the retrial at a hearing at the Military Court Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire. |
| Judge Advocate Jeff Blackett said there was no abuse of process relating to the content of emails apparently leaked by a Ministry of Defence source, which were referred to for the first time at the hearing. | |
| Lives 'on hold' | |
| Counsel for Sgt Nightingale, Simon McKay, said the emails appeared to show the Director of Service Prosecutions consulting the military "chain of command" - the Adjutant General's office - on whether or not to pursue the case against the soldier. | Counsel for Sgt Nightingale, Simon McKay, said the emails appeared to show the Director of Service Prosecutions consulting the military "chain of command" - the Adjutant General's office - on whether or not to pursue the case against the soldier. |
| But Judge Blackett said he was satisfied a retrial was in the public interest. | |
| The pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition were found by West Mercia Police at Sgt Nightingale's Hereford accommodation. | The pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition were found by West Mercia Police at Sgt Nightingale's Hereford accommodation. |
| Outside court, Sgt Nightingale said: "I wouldn't wish what we've been through on anyone's family. It's been very hard." | |
| His wife Sally said the lives of their whole family had been "on hold" during the process. | |
| "Everything is consumed by this case. We have all struggled through it." | |
| Mrs Nightingale said the family were "disappointed" with the news that there would have to be a retrial. | |
| She said: "We would've liked it to be over today - but it gives us the chance to have a fair hearing. We've got to be positive and move forward." | |
| Sgt Nightingale said he had "more confidence" in facing this trial than the previous one. | |
| He added: "We will continue to fight." | |
| The sniper had been serving his sentence at the Military Corrective Training Centre in Colchester, Essex, prior to his release last year. | |
| A special debate was held in the House of Commons in November where MPs criticised the original conviction which had led to an 18-month sentence. The sentence was later reduced to 12 months and suspended by the Court of Appeal. | |
| More than 35,000 people signed a petition calling for the case to be reviewed. | |
| The trial of the 38-year-old, from the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, is expected to start on 1 July. |