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Marine guilty of Afghanistan murder Marine guilty of Afghanistan murder
(35 minutes later)
A Royal Marine has been found guilty by a military court of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent, in what the prosecution called "an execution".A Royal Marine has been found guilty by a military court of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent, in what the prosecution called "an execution".
Two other marines were acquitted at the Military Court Centre in Wiltshire. Two other marines, known as B and C, were acquitted over the shooting of the unknown man while they were on patrol in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2011.
The three - Marines A, B and C - had denied murdering the unknown man while on patrol in Helmand province in 2011. Marine A faces a mandatory life sentence and was taken into custody.
Marine A was convicted after the court martial heard he had shot the man at close range. He faces a mandatory life sentence and was taken into custody. Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration".
It is the first time British forces have faced a murder charge in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan, said BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt.It is the first time British forces have faced a murder charge in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan, said BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt.
There were tears from the marines' families as the verdicts were read. Marines B and C are now free to return to military service, the judge said. There were tears from their families as the verdicts were read at the Military Court Centre in Wiltshire.
Marine B had inadvertently filmed the murder, which happened on 15 September 2011, on his helmet-mounted camera and the footage was shown to the court during the two-week trial. Marines B and C are now free to return to military service, the judge said.
'9mm pistol''9mm pistol'
It showed Marine A shooting the Afghan prisoner with a 9mm pistol, and saying: "There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil... It's nothing you wouldn't do to us." Marine B had inadvertently filmed the murder, which happened on 15 September 2011, on his helmet-mounted camera and the footage was shown to the court during the two-week trial.
He added: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention." It showed Marine A shooting the Afghan prisoner with a 9mm pistol, and saying: "There, shuffle off this mortal coil... It's nothing you wouldn't do to us."
On Thursday, a recording of a conversation between the marines in the moments before the Afghan was shot was released by the judge. He added: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," to which Marine B replies: "Yeah, roger mate."
He had previously rejected an application by the media to release the footage, saying it could be used as propaganda. On Thursday, a recording of a conversation between the marines in the moments surrounding the shooting was released by the judge.
He had previously rejected an application by the media to release the footage, saying it could be used as propaganda against the UK military.
During the court martial, prosecutor David Perry told the court: "It was not a killing in the heat and exercise of any armed conflict. The prosecution case is that it amounted to an execution, a field execution."During the court martial, prosecutor David Perry told the court: "It was not a killing in the heat and exercise of any armed conflict. The prosecution case is that it amounted to an execution, a field execution."
Marines B and C were accused by the prosecution of being "party to the killing" and of having "encouraged and assisted" Marine A to commit the murder.
Marine A was convicted by a seven-strong board, consisting of officers and non-commissioned officers.Marine A was convicted by a seven-strong board, consisting of officers and non-commissioned officers.
At the time of the killing, he was an experienced sergeant, while Marine C was the most junior of the three. Marine B was new to the Helmand base where marines A and C were based.At the time of the killing, he was an experienced sergeant, while Marine C was the most junior of the three. Marine B was new to the Helmand base where marines A and C were based.
Brig Dunham, deputy commandant of the General Royal Marines, said: "It is a matter of profound regret that in this isolated incident that one marine failed to apply his training and discharge his responsibilities.
"What we have heard over the past two weeks is not consistent with the ethos, values and standards of the Royal Marines.
"It was a truly shocking and appalling aberration. It should not have happened and it should never happen again."
He said it was for the Royal Marines to consider any impact from the case on the training given to its soldiers.
Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett told Marine A: "The mandatory sentence prescribed by law is imprisonment for life.Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett told Marine A: "The mandatory sentence prescribed by law is imprisonment for life.
"This court now has to determine the minimum term you will serve before you are eligible for release.""This court now has to determine the minimum term you will serve before you are eligible for release."
He asked for a report to be prepared ahead of sentencing at a later date. He asked for a report to be prepared ahead of sentencing on 6 December.
Addressing the other two defendants, the judge added: "Marine B and Marine C, you have been found not guilty of murder and you are now free to return to your normal place of duties.Addressing the other two defendants, the judge added: "Marine B and Marine C, you have been found not guilty of murder and you are now free to return to your normal place of duties.
"The issue of anonymity will be decided at a later date.""The issue of anonymity will be decided at a later date."
Under attackUnder attack
The murder took place after a patrol base in Helmand Province had come under attack from small arms fire from two insurgents.The murder took place after a patrol base in Helmand Province had come under attack from small arms fire from two insurgents.
The Afghan prisoner was seriously injured by gunfire fired from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support, and the marines found him in a field.The Afghan prisoner was seriously injured by gunfire fired from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support, and the marines found him in a field.
In one conversation between Marine A and C about shooting the man, one serviceman is overheard asking "Anyone want to give first aid to this idiot?" before another replies loudly "Nope."In one conversation between Marine A and C about shooting the man, one serviceman is overheard asking "Anyone want to give first aid to this idiot?" before another replies loudly "Nope."
In another, Marine C was heard asking A if he should shoot the man in the head, but Marine A said that would be too obvious.In another, Marine C was heard asking A if he should shoot the man in the head, but Marine A said that would be too obvious.
Royal Military Police arrested the three marines in October 2012 after video footage was found on a serviceman's laptop by civilian police in the UK.Royal Military Police arrested the three marines in October 2012 after video footage was found on a serviceman's laptop by civilian police in the UK.
They first appeared at the Military Court Centre in Bulford in August, where they pleaded not guilty to murdering the Afghan national contrary to section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.They first appeared at the Military Court Centre in Bulford in August, where they pleaded not guilty to murdering the Afghan national contrary to section 42 of the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Two further marines - D and E - had the charges against them dropped in February. An anonymity order granted last year to protect the five men from reprisals remains in place. Two further marines - D and E - had the charges against them dropped in February. An anonymity order granted last year to protect the five men from possible reprisals remains in place.
Prof Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute, said the Ministry of Defence needed to be transparent in cases such as this.Prof Michael Clarke, director of the Royal United Services Institute, said the Ministry of Defence needed to be transparent in cases such as this.
"The only thing the MoD can do is not try to hide in cases that look as bad as this, and they're going to have to accept that if we fight these wars, there will be cases that we are not very proud of - and that's not justifying them, I think it's just a realistic understanding of the ways things work," he said."The only thing the MoD can do is not try to hide in cases that look as bad as this, and they're going to have to accept that if we fight these wars, there will be cases that we are not very proud of - and that's not justifying them, I think it's just a realistic understanding of the ways things work," he said.