Words of lawyers fighting for release of marine who was jailed for murder after killing “fatally wounded” Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan

THE lawyers fighting for the release of a Royal Marine jailed for killing a “fatally wounded” Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan will say he is “a man of integrity”.

Alexander Blackman’s legal team and an ex-SAS chief have said the soldier deserves bail while awaiting the start of an appeal against his murder conviction.

Major General Holmes, who was director of all UK special forces, has offered a £50,000 guarantee for Sgt Blackman’s bail application lodged at the weekend.

He said: “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.”

If the application is a success, 42-year-old Blackman will be reunited with this wife Claire in time for their seventh wedding anniversary next Monday.

His lawyers will say his “acute debt of gratitude” to his supporters – including Sun readers – means he would not flee if released.

If bail is granted he could be home for Christmas.

His wife Claire, from Taunton, Somersert, said: “It would be the best present ever”.

Sgt Blackman, who was named Marine A at his court martial, shot a Taliban insurgent who had been wounded in an attack on a British base in Afghanistan in 2011.

The militant was being held captive when he was killed by Sgt Blackman.

The Royal Marine was sentenced to a minimum of ten years in prison in 2013, but this was later cut to eight.

He was granted an appeal against his conviction last week and it was said there was a “real possibility” his conviction would be overturned.

The new appeal will not be heard until the summer or next autumn and will consider whether he is guilty of “diminished responsibility”.

If the Court Martial Appeal Court agrees, his sentence could be cut to manslaughter or the conviction could be quashed.

His lawyers want the case to be heard in public and will tell the court Sgt Blackman is a “man of integrity”.

Jonathan Goldberg QC will tell this week’s bail hearing: “Tens of thousands of ordinary people have contributed donations to the Justice for Sgt Blackman campaign.

“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 judge at Sgt Blackman’s court martial said his offence is not one he would have committed at home.

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