- Official review has cast doubt on his conviction for killing Taliban insurgent
- It is a big victory for Daily Mail readers who backed his campaign for justice
- Kick in the teeth to the Establishment who condemned him to rot in prison
- He was convicted of shooting an insurgent who was already fatally wounded
Jailed Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman has won the right to a fresh appeal
The Royal Marine serving life for killing a Taliban fighter was granted a fresh appeal yesterday.
An official review cast doubt on Alexander Blackman’s murder conviction, saying there was ‘a real possibility’ it would be quashed.
The Criminal Cases Review Commission accepted new psychiatric evidence that the 42-year-old sergeant was suffering combat stress when he snapped and shot the insurgent in 2011.
It has formally referred the case back to the Courts Martial Appeal Court.
Sgt Blackman might now be able to spend Christmas with his family because his lawyers plan to seek bail.
It is a major victory for Daily Mail readers who gave £800,000 to the Marine’s legal fund.
‘This is the most fantastic news,’ said his wife Claire, who thanked her husband’s backers. ‘I am feeling a little dazed. It is very hard to express how much gratitude we both feel.’
After speaking to her husband by telephone last night she said: ‘He is absolutely ecstatic. He had not dared to hope, but now he is starting to allow himself to think about the future.’
Sgt Blackman was convicted three years ago of shooting the Taliban fighter who had already been fatally wounded in an attack on a British base in Afghanistan.
He admitted making a split-second mistake on a ‘tour from hell’ that saw comrades tortured and their body parts hung from trees.
Known as ‘Marine A’ at his court martial, he became the only British serviceman known to have been convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield.
The veteran commando, who served his country on six tours of duty, was given a life sentence of ten years, later cut to eight.
Wedding day: Sgt Alexander Blackman with his wife Claire on their wedding day
Protest: Sergeant Blackman's wife Claire poses for a photo in London with the Royal Marine's mother Frances and her parents along with the many servicemen who turned up in October
His supporters maintained however that he was locked up as a ‘political scapegoat’ for failings by top brass, that he was suffering from combat stress at the time of the shooting and that supportive colleagues had been prevented from testifying on his behalf.
The Courts Martial Appeal Court has the power to quash his murder conviction, commute it to manslaughter, or order a retrial.
Sgt Blackman, who was a highly experienced Marine destined for promotion, has been behind bars for more than three years.
But the psychiatric evidence could support a defence of diminished responsibility, seeing his murder conviction commuted to manslaughter – which carries a much lower tariff.Three eminent psychiatrists found that combat stress disorder – a recognised mental illness – made him momentarily and temporarily lose control.
The independent CCRC said a key reason for its decision was the fact the alternative verdict of manslaughter was not considered by his court martial.
David James Smith, lead commissioner on the case, said: ‘We have scrutinised this murder conviction in minute detail and after a thorough investigation we have concluded that there are new issues – principally relating to Mr Blackman’s state of mind at the time of the shooting – which in our view raise a real possibility that an appeal against conviction would now succeed.
‘On that basis we are sending the case back to the Courts Martial Appeal Court so that a fresh appeal can be heard.’
Former Royal Marine Commandos show their support for a judicial review into the conviction of Sergeant Blackman by walking from Parliament Square to Downing Street in October 2015
Frederick Forsyth, The Day of the Jackal author who has spearheaded the campaign for justice, said: ‘This is a proud day, the moment the masses stood up to the Establishment.
‘The gutless top brass threw a fighting sergeant to the wolves, to cover up a disastrous military operation in which their brave men were abandoned to a living hell, under-equipped and fighting to stay alive.’
It is very hard to express how much gratitude we both feel towards the Mail readers who have contributed so generously towards the legal fund
Claire Blackman
Fifteen months ago Sgt Blackman’s supporters had little hope of his release after an appeal by his old legal team failed.
But then a painstaking Mail investigation revealed that evidence which might have resulted in a lesser charge of manslaughter was ‘deliberately withheld’.
We found that Colonel Oliver Lee, a high-flying Marines officer, courageously quit in disgust after being blocked from telling the truth to the court martial.
He alleged key operational failings by commanders meant that Sgt Blackman’s troop had been scandalously isolated, under-manned, under-resourced and under daily Taliban assault – all directly affecting his state of mind at the time of the shooting.
Backing: His supporters say he was locked up as a 'political scapegoat' for failings by top brass
This led to him not receiving a fair trial, it was claimed. Our campaign for justice prompted tens of thousands of Mail readers to donate money to fund a fresh appeal by a new legal team led by eminent QC Jonathan Goldberg.
Last night Mr Goldberg said: ‘I now have real grounds for optimism that Sgt Blackman will have his murder conviction quashed. We will now mount a bail application.’
Mrs Blackman, a 44-year-old communications worker from Taunton, added: ‘For us to be together at Christmas would be the best present ever.
‘We are incredibly grateful to the CCRC for giving us the chance to get Al’s case back to the appeal courts. This is a really important first step. It is very hard to express how much gratitude we both feel towards the Mail readers who have contributed so generously towards the legal fund, plus the hundreds of thousands of others who have expressed their strong support. I would never have dreamed we would have this great hope of justice.’
Colonel Lee, speaking for the first time since resigning, said: ‘I have not sought to exonerate Sergeant Blackman from his responsibilities, but I have always felt it imperative that he be dealt with justly. I welcome the decision of the CCRC.’
Sgt Blackman is at HMP Erlestoke in Wiltshire.
The Mail's long battle to win justice
Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was the first known British serviceman to be jailed for murder on a foreign battlefield.
SAM GREENHILL charts the case and the path to justice.
December 7, 2013
CASUALTY OF WAR
DECEMBER 7, 2013
The Daily Mail reports how Sergeant Alexander Blackman, previously named only as Marine A, was jailed for life after shooting a fatally injured Taliban fighter.
A SHAMEFUL INJUSTICE
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
The Mail uncovers vital evidence that was ‘deliberately withheld’. One officer quit his commission in disgust at being blocked from testifying in support of Sgt Blackman.
FALL GUY FOR A FIASCO
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Sgt Blackman tells the Mail about the ‘tour from hell’ in Afghanistan. He says one mistake under extreme stress made him the fall guy.
September 11, 2015
COVER-UP PLOT EXPOSED
SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
The Ministry of Defence is accused of cover-ups, including trying to censor an internal report casting doubt on the Marine’s conviction.
BOMBSHELL REPORT LEAKED
SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
The internal report is leaked to the Mail. It reveals Sgt Blackman was failed by senior officers and put under unimaginable pressure.
FAMILIES JOIN CAMPAIGN
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
Families of Marines killed by the Taliban on Sgt Blackman’s ‘tour from hell’ poignantly join the campaign to review his conviction.
FIGHTING FUND TOPS £750K
OCTOBER 5, 2015
In less than a month, generous Mail readers raise an incredible £750,000 – enough to fund a team of lawyers to pursue a new appeal.
September 17, 2015
DEFIANCE OF THE MARINES
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Royal Marines past and present rally in Parliament Square in support of their jailed comrade.
SHAMEFUL PLOT
DECEMBER 12, 2015
We expose a plot to keep Sgt Blackman behind bars. A leaked document reveals the determination of senior officers to block efforts to overturn his conviction.
APPEAL IS LAUNCHED
DECEMBER 16, 2015
Accompanied by 500 green beret-wearing supporters, Sgt Blackman’s wife Claire delivers a seven-file dossier to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
WILL HE EVER GET JUSTICE?
October 5, 2015
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
A year after our campaign is launched, the Mail reveals bureaucratic delays to Sgt Blackman’s fight for justice.
At the same time, British troops are being hounded by ambulance-chasing lawyers over other incidents in the line of duty.
SHOW OF SUPPORT
OCTOBER 28, 2016
More than 2,000 ex-Marines and members of the public flood Parliament Square to demand justice. They hear speeches and messages from the former director of Special Forces Major General John Holmes and Marines Falklands commander Major General Julian Thompson.
NEW HOPE
DECEMBER 6, 2016
The CCRC grants a fresh appeal, saying there is a ‘real possibility’ his conviction will be overturned.
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