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| Ex-general urges leniency for marine who murdered Afghan | Ex-general urges leniency for marine who murdered Afghan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Royal Marine convicted of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent should be shown leniency when he is sentenced, a retired commander has said. | |
| Maj Gen Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, told The Times a five-year term would be more appropriate than life. | Maj Gen Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, told The Times a five-year term would be more appropriate than life. |
| The sergeant, known as Marine A, faces a mandatory life term over the shooting of the unknown man in 2011 after being convicted by a court martial. | The sergeant, known as Marine A, faces a mandatory life term over the shooting of the unknown man in 2011 after being convicted by a court martial. |
| Two other marines were cleared. | Two other marines were cleared. |
| Marine A is due to be sentenced on 6 December. | Marine A is due to be sentenced on 6 December. |
| Maj Gen Thompson, told The Times the shooting of the Afghan insurgent in Helmand Province was "wrong and everyone in the Royal Marines is clear about that". | Maj Gen Thompson, told The Times the shooting of the Afghan insurgent in Helmand Province was "wrong and everyone in the Royal Marines is clear about that". |
| But he added: "I am sad for the man who did it, in that he probably had a moment of stupidity." | But he added: "I am sad for the man who did it, in that he probably had a moment of stupidity." |
| He told the newspaper that when an enemy surrenders on the battlefield it is "a very, very dangerous time". | He told the newspaper that when an enemy surrenders on the battlefield it is "a very, very dangerous time". |
| 'Appalling aberration' | 'Appalling aberration' |
| It is the first time a member of the British forces has faced a murder charge in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan, which began in 2001. | It is the first time a member of the British forces has faced a murder charge in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan, which began in 2001. |
| Following the verdict on Friday, Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration". | Following the verdict on Friday, Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration". |
| The incident came to light after one of the marines who was later cleared - known as Marine B - inadvertently filmed the murder on his helmet-mounted camera. | The incident came to light after one of the marines who was later cleared - known as Marine B - inadvertently filmed the murder on his helmet-mounted camera. |
| The footage taken on 15 September 2011 was shown to the court during the two-week trial. | The footage taken on 15 September 2011 was shown to the court during the two-week trial. |
| 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." | 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." |
| He adds: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," to which Marine B replies: "Yeah, roger mate." | He adds: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," to which Marine B replies: "Yeah, roger mate." |
| On Thursday, a recording of a conversation between the marines in the moments surrounding the shooting was released by the judge. | On Thursday, a recording of a conversation between the marines in the moments surrounding the shooting was released by the judge. |
| Murder followed attack | Murder followed attack |
| During the court martial, prosecutor David Perry told the court the murder was "not a killing in the heat and exercise of any armed conflict... it amounted to an execution". | During the court martial, prosecutor David Perry told the court the murder was "not a killing in the heat and exercise of any armed conflict... it amounted to an execution". |
| Marine A told the court martial he had fired because of "poor judgement and lack of self-control", but said he had thought the insurgent was already dead. | Marine A told the court martial he had fired because of "poor judgement and lack of self-control", but said he had thought the insurgent was already dead. |
| 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. | 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. |
| At the time of the killing, he was an experienced sergeant, while Marine C was the most junior of the three. | At the time of the killing, he was an experienced sergeant, while Marine C was the most junior of the three. |
| The murder took place after a patrol base in Helmand Province came under attack from small arms fire from two insurgents. | The murder took place after a patrol base in Helmand Province came under attack from small arms fire from two insurgents. |
| The Afghan prisoner was seriously injured by gunfire 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 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. |