Tri-Service

Judges To Be Urged To Free 'Marine A' Before Christmas

Judges will be urged to free Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman while he awaits appeal on account of his "great integrity" and several prominent figures offering to pay his bail, it has been reported.

Blackman, known as Marine A, is serving a life sentence for murdering a wounded Afghan captive.

However, an independent review has concluded that he faces the "real possibility" of having his conviction quashed following the presentation of new evidence.

As part of their argument at a hearing that could take place this week, lawyers will implore a military court to release the 42-year-old, known as Marine A, on bail in time for Christmas and his wedding anniversary.

This is according to the Daily Mail, who have been behind a campaign for his release.

His legal team will explain that he will not flee the country as he feels a "duty and a debt of gratitude" to his legions of supporters.

Jonathan Goldberg QC, representing Blackman, will tell the court:

"Tens of thousands of ordinary people have contributed donations to the Justice for Sgt Blackman campaign organised by the Daily Mail which has paid the legal fees to prepare this fresh appeal. Thousands of former Royal Marines have peacefully held rallies and demonstrated in Parliament Square and Birmingham. He is a man of great integrity who acutely feels a duty and a debt of gratitude to them. He will follow due process meticulously."

The judges will also reportedly be told that the former director special forces, Major General John Holmes, MP Richard Drax, author Frederick Forsyth and a former marine, John Davies, have each offered to pay identical £50,000 bail sureties.

Maj Gen Holmes told the newspaper:

"I have supported Sgt Blackman's cause since the outset. I am more than happy to help stand his bail so he can be reunited with his family."

On Tuesday the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) referred Blackman's conviction to the Courts Martial Appeal Court.

The marine was found guilty of murder at a court-martial at the Military Court Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, in 2013.

But the presentation of new evidence relating to Blackman's mental health at the time of the death in Helmand in 2011, and the fact that an alternative verdict of unlawful act manslaughter was not available during the trial, means the case will return to the court.

Judges will then consider whether or not to quash his conviction, commute the sentence to manslaughter or order a retrial at a court martial.

An MoD spokesperson said:

"We will continue to co-operate fully with any legal process involving Sergeant Blackman’s case. Sergeant Blackman’s case has involved a full criminal inquiry, a court martial, an appeal, and has now been reviewed by the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission."