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| Royal Marines arrest: laptop video may provide evidence | Royal Marines arrest: laptop video may provide evidence |
| (6 days later) | |
| Video footage on a laptop may provide investigators with crucial evidence as they probe the behaviour of seven Royal Marines arrested for the alleged murder of an insurgent in Afghanistan. | Video footage on a laptop may provide investigators with crucial evidence as they probe the behaviour of seven Royal Marines arrested for the alleged murder of an insurgent in Afghanistan. |
| The inquiry is understood to be focusing on what happened after the marines and the man were involved in a firefight, and whether he was unarmed when he died. The Ministry of Defence refused to give more details of the incident, which took place when the marines were part of 3 Commando Brigade's Afghanistan tour between April and October 2011. | The inquiry is understood to be focusing on what happened after the marines and the man were involved in a firefight, and whether he was unarmed when he died. The Ministry of Defence refused to give more details of the incident, which took place when the marines were part of 3 Commando Brigade's Afghanistan tour between April and October 2011. |
| It is believed the investigation will look at footage taken at the time which came to light a few weeks ago. The film was found on the laptop of a serviceman being investigated on a separate matter. It is understood to show marines discussing what to do with an injured insurgent. | It is believed the investigation will look at footage taken at the time which came to light a few weeks ago. The film was found on the laptop of a serviceman being investigated on a separate matter. It is understood to show marines discussing what to do with an injured insurgent. |
| The seven were arrested on Thursday by the Royal Military Police (RMP), and the inquiry will be run by officers from the force, who will decide if there is enough evidence to press charges. That will turn on whether there is evidence the men broke the strict rules of engagement (ROE) that all British military personnel are expected to abide by. The ROE are secret, but are largely derived from the Geneva conventions and dictate under what circumstances British troops can open fire. | The seven were arrested on Thursday by the Royal Military Police (RMP), and the inquiry will be run by officers from the force, who will decide if there is enough evidence to press charges. That will turn on whether there is evidence the men broke the strict rules of engagement (ROE) that all British military personnel are expected to abide by. The ROE are secret, but are largely derived from the Geneva conventions and dictate under what circumstances British troops can open fire. |
| The Royal Navy made clear on Friday that it demands the highest standards from its personnel, and that the arrests showed the seriousness with which the incident was being taken. | The Royal Navy made clear on Friday that it demands the highest standards from its personnel, and that the arrests showed the seriousness with which the incident was being taken. |
| The decision on whether the marines face trial will be made by the military's director of service prosecutions. A court martial has the same sentencing powers as a crown court, so the marines could face life imprisonment if found guilty. | The decision on whether the marines face trial will be made by the military's director of service prosecutions. A court martial has the same sentencing powers as a crown court, so the marines could face life imprisonment if found guilty. |
| The sensitivity of the case has led to a near news blackout at the MoD to allow the RMP to conduct an investigation that is thought to be the first of its kind involving British forces in Afghanistan. The marines are regarded as among the elite of the British armed forces, and commanders hailed their efforts in Afghanistan last year as having "historical importance" in the fight against the Taliban. | The sensitivity of the case has led to a near news blackout at the MoD to allow the RMP to conduct an investigation that is thought to be the first of its kind involving British forces in Afghanistan. The marines are regarded as among the elite of the British armed forces, and commanders hailed their efforts in Afghanistan last year as having "historical importance" in the fight against the Taliban. |
| The MoD would not say where the alleged murder took place or when, though sources insisted the dead man was a combatant, not a civilian, and that no special forces soldiers were involved. It also insisted that there had been an "engagement" between the insurgent and the marines. Nothing untoward was reported to commanding officers at the time. | The MoD would not say where the alleged murder took place or when, though sources insisted the dead man was a combatant, not a civilian, and that no special forces soldiers were involved. It also insisted that there had been an "engagement" between the insurgent and the marines. Nothing untoward was reported to commanding officers at the time. |
| Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi said the Afghan government welcomed the arrests because it meant the law was being implemented. | Afghan defence ministry spokesman General Zahir Azimi said the Afghan government welcomed the arrests because it meant the law was being implemented. |
| Meanwhile it was reported that British military chiefs are planning for an accelerated withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Daily Telegraph said the move was prompted by an intervention by George Osborne who questioned the continued presence of British troops in the country. | Meanwhile it was reported that British military chiefs are planning for an accelerated withdrawal from Afghanistan. The Daily Telegraph said the move was prompted by an intervention by George Osborne who questioned the continued presence of British troops in the country. |
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