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Jailed marine Sgt Alexander Blackman was 'morally disengaged' | Jailed marine Sgt Alexander Blackman was 'morally disengaged' |
(34 minutes later) | |
A Royal Marine jailed for the murder of a Taliban insurgent was "morally disengaged" and showed "poor leadership", a review has found. | A Royal Marine jailed for the murder of a Taliban insurgent was "morally disengaged" and showed "poor leadership", a review has found. |
The Royal Navy internal review looked at events surrounding the shooting of an injured captive by Sgt Alexander Blackman in Afghanistan four years ago. | The Royal Navy internal review looked at events surrounding the shooting of an injured captive by Sgt Alexander Blackman in Afghanistan four years ago. |
It said he let professional standards "slip to an unacceptably low level". | It said he let professional standards "slip to an unacceptably low level". |
Blackman also had difficulty switching his mindset from killing his enemy to giving them first aid, it added. | Blackman also had difficulty switching his mindset from killing his enemy to giving them first aid, it added. |
'Shuffle off' | 'Shuffle off' |
The killing, on 15 September 2011, took place after a patrol base in Helmand province came under fire from two insurgents. | The killing, on 15 September 2011, took place after a patrol base in Helmand province came under fire from two insurgents. |
One of the insurgents was seriously injured by gunfire from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support and the marines found him in a field. | One of the insurgents was seriously injured by gunfire from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support and the marines found him in a field. |
Footage from another marine's helmet-mounted camera showed Blackman shooting the Afghan prisoner in the chest with a 9mm pistol. | Footage from another marine's helmet-mounted camera showed Blackman shooting the Afghan prisoner in the chest with a 9mm pistol. |
A court martial board heard that Blackman told him: "There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil." | A court martial board heard that Blackman told him: "There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil." |
Blackman's senior rank meant that others in his patrol were put off questioning his orders or challenging his actions, the report said. | Blackman's senior rank meant that others in his patrol were put off questioning his orders or challenging his actions, the report said. |
It also criticised his unit, 42 Commando, as a whole, saying it was perceived by many outside as "overly aggressive". | It also criticised his unit, 42 Commando, as a whole, saying it was perceived by many outside as "overly aggressive". |
Despite representations however, the Brigade Commander judged its approach to be "appropriate given the circumstances", the report said. | Despite representations however, the Brigade Commander judged its approach to be "appropriate given the circumstances", the report said. |
It went on to say a "number" of those involved directly and indirectly felt the chain of command had failed to provide them with adequate support before, during and after the court martial. | It went on to say a "number" of those involved directly and indirectly felt the chain of command had failed to provide them with adequate support before, during and after the court martial. |
The Ministry of Defence said it was releasing the executive summary of the report in recognition of the public interest in the case. | |
Two paragraphs have been redacted and there are no plans to publish the review in full. | |
'Extremity of exhaustion' | |
Blackman, of Taunton, Somerset, was convicted of murder in 2013 and lost an appeal in May last year, but his 10-year minimum term was reduced to eight years. | Blackman, of Taunton, Somerset, was convicted of murder in 2013 and lost an appeal in May last year, but his 10-year minimum term was reduced to eight years. |
Supporters say it was manslaughter, not murder, and have launched a campaign to review the case. | Supporters say it was manslaughter, not murder, and have launched a campaign to review the case. |
Author and campaigner Frederick Forsyth said the Ministry of Defence was trying to "pile every single thing that went wrong" in Helmand on to one sergeant. | |
"They sent 15 men to the most dangerous square mile in the world for five-and-a-half months unvisited, unrelieved, under-resourced, and then when one man, at the extremity of exhaustion made a mistake, they are saying it was all his fault," he told BBC's Victoria Derbyshire. | |
Blackman's case is due to be debated by MPs later, at the request of Conservative MP Richard Drax. |