Tri-Service

Classified Military Investigation Into 'Marine A' Case Revealed

A report released by the Ministry of Defence into the case of Alexander Blackman says the former Royal Marine "allowed professional standards to slip to an unacceptably low level", before he shot dead an insurgent in Afghanistan.

It says this was a significant contributory factor to the way the insurgent was treated by members of Blackman's patrol.

However, it also identifies wider problems with J Company - Blackman's unit.

According to the report, J Company did not have adequate face-to-face supervision, which allowed a number of warning signs to be missed.

If monitored closely, the report says, Blackman's unit would have:

"Indicated that they were showing evidence of moral regression, psychological strain and fatigue."

The redacted version of an internal report into the incident casts further light on the circumstances surrounding the killing.

'Marine A', as Blackman was known during the trial, was convicted of murder in 2013 after being caught on camera shooting a Taliban prisoner and joking with comrades about breaking the Geneva Convention.

He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, later reduced to eight.

The Ministry of Defence has previously refused to publish the internal investigation which the Royal Navy commissioned into the incident

The release of the redacted version makes for interesting reading.

The report does not just focus on Blackman and the Chain of Command.

It criticises the whole of 42 Commando, who were deemed, by others, to have an "overly aggressive" culture.

In an interview with Forces News Sergeant Blackman's wife, Claire, said he regretted the killing.

Defence analysts believe the release of the report could help support Blackman's case at the Court Martial Appeal Court.

Blackman will appear at the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday Afternoon for his bail hearing, with his appeal hearing likely to be heard in summer or autumn of 2017.