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| Danny Nightingale: court martial board considers verdict on ex-SAS sniper | Danny Nightingale: court martial board considers verdict on ex-SAS sniper |
| (2 months later) | |
| A court martial board has retired to consider its verdict on a former SAS sniper accused of illegally possessing a pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition. | A court martial board has retired to consider its verdict on a former SAS sniper accused of illegally possessing a pistol and more than 300 rounds of ammunition. |
| Sergeant Danny Nightingale, 38, is on trial at the military court centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, charged with possessing a Glock 9mm pistol and ammunition. | Sergeant Danny Nightingale, 38, is on trial at the military court centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, charged with possessing a Glock 9mm pistol and ammunition. |
| The haul was recovered by civilian police in September 2011 in the rented house the father-of-two shared with another SAS soldier, known only as Soldier N. The pistol was found in Nightingale's wardrobe and the ammunition was under his bed in a plastic box. | The haul was recovered by civilian police in September 2011 in the rented house the father-of-two shared with another SAS soldier, known only as Soldier N. The pistol was found in Nightingale's wardrobe and the ammunition was under his bed in a plastic box. |
| Nightingale denies possessing the gun and ammunition. He has claimed they were put there by somebody else – probably soldier N, who has previously been sentenced to detention for possessing another pistol and other ammunition. | Nightingale denies possessing the gun and ammunition. He has claimed they were put there by somebody else – probably soldier N, who has previously been sentenced to detention for possessing another pistol and other ammunition. |
| The court martial heard that Nightingale told police in 2011 he was given the pistol by an Iraqi during a tour there in 2007. He also said the ammunition was accumulated from training sessions on ranges at his UK base. | The court martial heard that Nightingale told police in 2011 he was given the pistol by an Iraqi during a tour there in 2007. He also said the ammunition was accumulated from training sessions on ranges at his UK base. |
| However, Nightingale now says his confession was false because of memory problems caused by a brain injury he suffered during a charity endurance race in the Amazon in October 2009, which left him in a coma. | However, Nightingale now says his confession was false because of memory problems caused by a brain injury he suffered during a charity endurance race in the Amazon in October 2009, which left him in a coma. |
| Nightingale maintains he was "confabulating" – filling in gaps in his memory based on what other people had told him. | Nightingale maintains he was "confabulating" – filling in gaps in his memory based on what other people had told him. |
| The judge advocate general, Jeff Blackett, spent an hour summing up the evidence on Wednesday and giving directions on the law to the five-person court martial board. | The judge advocate general, Jeff Blackett, spent an hour summing up the evidence on Wednesday and giving directions on the law to the five-person court martial board. |
| He told them: "The prosecution bring the case and the burden of proof is upon them. The defendant does not have to prove anything and he certainly does not have to prove his innocence. If you are not sure the defendant is guilty you must find him not guilty." | He told them: "The prosecution bring the case and the burden of proof is upon them. The defendant does not have to prove anything and he certainly does not have to prove his innocence. If you are not sure the defendant is guilty you must find him not guilty." |
| The judge urged the board to reach unanimous verdicts but said that under military law he could accept a simple majority. | The judge urged the board to reach unanimous verdicts but said that under military law he could accept a simple majority. |
| Nightingale's family, including his wife, Sally, and father, Humphrey, were in court to support him. | Nightingale's family, including his wife, Sally, and father, Humphrey, were in court to support him. |
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