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| Former SAS soldiers say jailed sniper is victim of 'travesty of justice' | Former SAS soldiers say jailed sniper is victim of 'travesty of justice' |
| (5 months later) | |
| Four high-profile former members of the SAS have joined the battle to free a special forces sniper jailed for possessing a firearm, claiming he is victim of a "travesty of justice" and a "shameful betrayal". | Four high-profile former members of the SAS have joined the battle to free a special forces sniper jailed for possessing a firearm, claiming he is victim of a "travesty of justice" and a "shameful betrayal". |
| In an open letter to David Cameron, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams, Colonel Tim Collins, Andy McNab and Chris Ryan said: "Compare this man's case to that of Abu Qatada and see if it is fair." | In an open letter to David Cameron, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Williams, Colonel Tim Collins, Andy McNab and Chris Ryan said: "Compare this man's case to that of Abu Qatada and see if it is fair." |
| Sergeant Danny Nightingale, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced to 18 months in military detention by a court martial last week. | Sergeant Danny Nightingale, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced to 18 months in military detention by a court martial last week. |
| He was charged with illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol, which had been packed up and returned to him by colleagues after he had to leave Iraq in a hurry to help organise the funeral of two friends killed in action. | He was charged with illegally possessing a 9mm Glock pistol, which had been packed up and returned to him by colleagues after he had to leave Iraq in a hurry to help organise the funeral of two friends killed in action. |
| The gun was a gift from Iraqi soldiers he had been helping to train in 2009 and he claimed he did not remember having it. | The gun was a gift from Iraqi soldiers he had been helping to train in 2009 and he claimed he did not remember having it. |
| Nightingale had been planning to fight the charge but pleaded guilty after being warned he faced a five-year sentence. | Nightingale had been planning to fight the charge but pleaded guilty after being warned he faced a five-year sentence. |
| The case has sparked outrage, with Nightingale's family, fellow soldiers and some politicians dubbing it a betrayal of a war hero. | The case has sparked outrage, with Nightingale's family, fellow soldiers and some politicians dubbing it a betrayal of a war hero. |
| The four former special forces heroes wrote an open letter – published in the Sun on Wednesday – to the prime minister, calling for the father-of-two to be released on licence and the case reviewed. | The four former special forces heroes wrote an open letter – published in the Sun on Wednesday – to the prime minister, calling for the father-of-two to be released on licence and the case reviewed. |
| Williams, former commanding officer of 22 SAS and Nightingale's commanding officer in Iraq, and the other three men said Nightingale was "the victim of a monstrous miscarriage of justice". | Williams, former commanding officer of 22 SAS and Nightingale's commanding officer in Iraq, and the other three men said Nightingale was "the victim of a monstrous miscarriage of justice". |
| "This shameful betrayal ruins 17 years of exemplary service – including 11 with the SAS," they wrote. | "This shameful betrayal ruins 17 years of exemplary service – including 11 with the SAS," they wrote. |
| "We say this prosecution should never have happened. Furthermore, we say he was bullied into a guilty plea. And lastly, we say the custodial sentence is completely disproportionate to the alleged crime. We say he is the victim of a shameful travesty of justice and we demand immediate action. Compare this man's case to that of Abu Qatada and see if it is fair." | "We say this prosecution should never have happened. Furthermore, we say he was bullied into a guilty plea. And lastly, we say the custodial sentence is completely disproportionate to the alleged crime. We say he is the victim of a shameful travesty of justice and we demand immediate action. Compare this man's case to that of Abu Qatada and see if it is fair." |
| They urged Cameron to "exercise leadership and judgment" and release Nightingale on licence so the case can be reviewed. | They urged Cameron to "exercise leadership and judgment" and release Nightingale on licence so the case can be reviewed. |
| Nightingale's lawyer Simon McKay confirmed he was planning to appeal. | Nightingale's lawyer Simon McKay confirmed he was planning to appeal. |
| A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We do not ordinarily comment on UK special forces for very good reasons. It would also be wrong to comment on the process, findings, convictions or sentences of a court that may be subject to appeal. It is for the courts, and the courts alone, to determine the guilt or otherwise of any person accused of an offence." | A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "We do not ordinarily comment on UK special forces for very good reasons. It would also be wrong to comment on the process, findings, convictions or sentences of a court that may be subject to appeal. It is for the courts, and the courts alone, to determine the guilt or otherwise of any person accused of an offence." |
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