Alexander Blackman: "Hindsight A Wonderful Thing"

Watch the interview in full

Former Royal Marine Alexander Blackman has said if "he could go back he would change things" adding "hindsight is a wonderful thing". 

This is the first time the former Sergeant, who shot dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, has spoken on camera since being released.  

He said: 

"I don't know why I did it, a moment of madness is the best description I can give. It's not exactly the proudest moment of my life when I look back on that." 

When asked directly why he shot the injured Taliban fighter Blackman said: "I really couldn't tell you. I've spent a lot of time thinking about it and I don't have a definitive answer."

Also speaking in the interview his wife Claire Blackman said:

"I did often wonder if it would ever come. It took a long time to sink in, I didn't quite believe it but now he's home it's wonderful."

Blackman, who spent more than three years in jail for killing the insurgent in 2011, left Erlestoke Prison last month.

It came after his sentence was reduced a month ago. 

"I'm with you all the way"

In the interview, Mr Blackman said that if he'd understand if his wife wanted to walk away while he was in prison and that he'd "wish her well".

Mrs Blackman quickly responded saying:

"Don't ever say that to me again. My marriage vows are my marriage vows, I'm with you all the way."  

The former commando was originally convicted of murder but this was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter.

Five judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the incident when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.