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Hundreds Gather In Support Of Former Royal Marine Convicted Of Murder

Article by James Hirst

Police estimate more than 600 people have joined a rally calling for the release of a Royal Marine Sergeant, jailed for murdering an Afghan man.

Alexander Blackman was given a minimum term of 10 years when he was convicted in 2013 for shooting an injured Taliban insurgent.

An appeal against his conviction was rejected in May last year but the jail term was reduced to a minimum of 8 years.

His supporters want the case reopened, claiming there is new evidence shows Marine Blackman should have faced the lesser charge of manslaughter.

Today they gathered in their hundreds on Parliament Square, many of them veterans creating a small sea of green berets in the heart of Westminster.

More from Forces TV: MoD Issues Blackman Protest Warning

Sgt. Blackman's wife Claire said she was hugely impressed with the turnout.

She said: "It means so much, the support is phenomenal.

"The support we've had throughout has been amazing - from all walks of life - but to be surrounded by Al's former colleagues, serving and former servicemen and women, is just really special."

Serving marines had said they planned to attend, but a Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said regulations prohibited members of the military from attending political protests, marches, rallies or demonstrations.

If any current members of the forces did join the rally none was brave or foolhardy enough to do so in uniform.

One former marine who served in Afghanistan told Forces TV he was there to "to support Al, the fact that he's been hung out to dry by government and left in prison just for doing his job."

Alexander Blackman’s own words were key to his conviction. On footage from his helmet camera he was heard quoting Shakespeare before shooting the man, and then saying “There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil”.

He then told his colleagues “Obviously this doesn’t go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva convention.”

But his supporters say he believed the insurgent was already dead.

Former Corporal Jeff Little, who co-organised the rally, called on the Government to instigate an immediate retrial.

He said: "We feel that this Government has let down one of our own after serving our country proudly, like we all have."

But Conservative MP Richard Drax who is backing the campaign acknowledged Parliament cannot get involved.

He said the aim was to maintain a high profile while a report is prepared for the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

"They look at it, and if they think there is another case to answer, they send it back to the Appeal Court and that's the only way we can get it back into court again."

Sgt. Blackman’s new legal team will argue there were errors made by his original defence lawyers, and that the legal system has not served its purpose.

They see this as their last chance to secure his freedom, and at least partially restore his reputation.