'Marine A': How It All Happened

Sergeant Alexander Blackman, known as Marine A, became the first British serviceman convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield since the Second World War.

Here is a timeline of events in the case:

2011

March: Sgt Blackman deploys to Helmand Province as part of Op Herrick XIV. His unit is sent to Nad-e Ali. The area sees heavy fighting and several marines are killed, including Sgt Blackman's troop commander.

September: Taliban insurgents attack a small British Patrol Base. They are repelled with the aid of a British Apache helicopter gunship. Sgt Blackman is sent on patrol to find the fleeing attackers. One is found lying on the ground gravely wounded. This is when Sgt Blackman shoots him in the chest, killing him. This is captured on a helmet camera by one of the patrol.

2012

September: The video of the incident is found on the laptop of one of the Royal Marines during an investigation by civilian police, who were looking into another crime. This is when the police investigation begins.

October: Seven marines, who are unnamed, are arrested on suspicion of murder. 

2013

October: Sgt Blackman and two others go on trial at the Court Martial Centre Bulford, accused of Murder. The three on trial still remain anonymous only known as Marine A, B and C. They give evidence from behind a screen and all three plead not guilty. 

November: Sgt Blackman is found guilty of murder, Marines B and C are acquitted. 

December: Sgt Blackman is stripped of his anonymity and given a life sentence, he must serve a minimum of 10 years in a civilian prison.

2014

May: A court appeal to overturn Sgt Blackman's life sentence is unsuccessful but his minimum term is cut from 10 years to eight.

2015

September: Sgt Blackman's wife Claire begins a high-profile campaign to have him freed.

December: New evidence is handed into the Criminal Cases Review Commission in an attempt to have the conviction sent back to the Court of Appeal.

2016

December: The CCRC conclude that there is a possibility of overturning the conviction and grants and appeal. The Lord Chief Justice refuses a bid to grant bail, after prosecutors challenge new psychiatric evidence about his mental state at the time of the killing. Later that month, Sgt Blackman loses a bid to be released on bail in time for Christmas. 

2017

February: Five judges, begin hearing an appeal brought by Sgt Blackman to overturn his murder conviction at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London.

March: Sgt Blackman has his murder conviction replaced with manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility by the Court. Five judges at the Court Martial Appeal Court hear submissions in mitigation before retiring to consider the sentence.

March 28th: 'Marine A' sentenced to seven years for diminished responsibility, meaning he could be released in weeks.