MoD Resists Media Campaign To Release Full Marine A Shooting Footage
The Ministry of Defence is resisting an attempt by media organisations to persuade a court to release video footage showing an incident in which a Royal Marine shot a wounded Taliban fighter dead.
The organisations believe releasing the footage is in the interest of open justice.
Still images and audio were released at the time of the court martial but the MoD successfully argued that publication of the full video would be a propaganda gift to terrorists who wished to harm the UK.
Shortly before a court was due to sit to hear the media's application for the video's release, a one-page risk assessment drawn up by the Research Information and Communications Unit, together with a three-page annex, was handed in by the MoD's legal team.
A threat assessment by the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre was also prepared for the 2013 case. It looked at the threat posed to Blackman and two other marines who were with him that day.
The lord chief justice, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, said he and his two fellow judges were "very annoyed" and said the hearing would have to be adjourned to give the media time to look at the reports.
Along with the MoD, Jonathan Goldberg QC, for Blackman, also opposed the release of the video.
Goldberg said Blackman’s wife was "frightened" of the consequences of it being published.
Sgt Alexander Wayne Blackman, also known as Marine A, was convicted of murder at a court martial in 2013 and sentenced to life in prison.
Footage from another marine's camera showing Blackman shooting dead a wounded Taliban fighter in Helmand Province in September 2011 was used to convict him.
Blackman’s conviction is set for a hearing at the court martial appeal court next month, following an investigation by the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
Forces TV is awaiting comment from the MoD on the issue.
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