Image copyright PA Image caption Sgt Alexander Blackman had his murder conviction reduced to manslaughter

The Royal Marine jailed for shooting dead a wounded Taliban fighter has been released from prison.

Sgt Alexander Blackman received a life term in 2013 for murder, but his conviction was reduced to manslaughter.

The 42-year-old from Taunton, Somerset, served more than three years of a seven-year sentence.

Judges at the Court Martial Appeal Court were told he had a recognised mental illness at the time of the killing in September 2011.

Blackman - who was known as Marine A during the original trial process and fully identified when he was convicted - was serving his sentence at Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire. He was released at 00:18 BST.

His original murder conviction was quashed in March.

The appeal hearing came after his wife Claire led a campaign alongside author Frederick Forsyth and the Daily Mail newspaper.

Blackman had more than 13 years of service and had previously been deployed to Iraq on three occasions and to Afghanistan in 2007.

The Royal Marine's barrister, Jonathan Goldberg, said he had been approached about making a film about Blackman's story.

"The case is controversial - this is obviously why Hollywood want to make a film about it," he said.

"I was there last week meeting some important people, and the idea is that Kate Winslet might be cast as Claire, Tom Hardy as Al and - can you believe it - Al Pacino as me."

Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Sgt Blackman was driven away from prison in the early hours of Friday

His supporters had hoped the quashing of the murder conviction would lead to his reinstatement in the Royal Marines.

However, the judges at the appeal hearing said his dismissal from the service should remain.

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The killing on 15 September 2011 took place during the final month of 42 Commando's six-month tour of duty to Helmand province - a deployment which saw the unit lose seven men.

Footage from an unofficial helmet-mounted camera of another marine was found during an unrelated investigation and showed Blackman shooting the Afghan prisoner in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

The shooting took place after a British patrol base came under fire. One of two insurgents was seriously injured by gunfire from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support, and the marines from 42 Commando found him in a field.

Image caption Sgt Blackman's actions were caught on another marine's helmet camera

In their sentencing remarks, the judges said that although Blackman's responsibility was diminished, he "still retained a substantial responsibility for the deliberate killing".

They said other "aggravating factors" included the vulnerability of the insurgent, who could not defend himself, and "the decision to ensure that the killing was not witnessed by the overhead helicopter and thereafter to cover up the evidence of what had happened".

Two other marines from 42 Commando were tried alongside Blackman in 2013 but acquitted.

Blackman lost an appeal against his conviction in May of the following year, but his 10-year minimum term was reduced to eight years.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission later granted him a fresh appeal after his lawyers submitted expert evidence relating to his mental state at the time of the offence.</s>The Royal Marine jailed for killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan will be "released from prison on Friday", according to campaign group Justice For Marine A.

Alexander Blackman, 42, known as Marine A, had his conviction for murder quashed last month and his sentence changed from life in prison to seven years for manslaughter.

The appeal court accepted the grounds of diminished responsibility as he was suffering from a mental illness, known as adjustment disorder.

It was argued that during his tour of duty in Helmand during 2011 Sergeant Blackman and his men had been overstretched and under resourced.

He had lost close colleagues in Taliban attacks and was suffering from an undiagnosed adjustment disorder.

The former Sergeant has had many supporters campaigning for his release since he was sentenced to prison in 2013.

Mr Blackman's conviction came after video footage recorded on a camera mounted to the helmet of another Royal Marine, captured the moment he shot the insurgent.

At the time he said he believed the fighter was already dead and he was merely taking his anger out on a corpse.

He was "dismissed with disgrace" from the Royal Marines after serving for distinction for 15 years.</s>The Royal Marine jailed for killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan will be "released from prison on Friday", according to campaign group Justice For Marine A.

Alexander Blackman, 42, known as Marine A, had his conviction for murder quashed last month and his sentence changed from life in prison to seven years for manslaughter. The appeal court accepted the grounds of diminished responsibility as he was suffering from a mental illness, known as adjustment disorder.

It was argued that during his tour of duty in Helmand during 2011 Sergeant Blackman and his men had been overstretched and under resourced.</s>Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, who had his sentence reduced for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, will be released from prison on Friday, the Justice For Marine A campaign group said.</s>‘Marine A’ who was jailed for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter will walk free from prison on Friday, campaigners said,

Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was originally convicted of murder but this was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter last month.

Now the commando, who has spent more than three years in prison for the shooting in 2011, will leave Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire.

Five judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the incident in Afghanistan.

His sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he could be freed within weeks - a decision his wife Claire Blackman described as "the moment that we have all been fighting hard for".

The Justice for Marine A campaign group had repeatedly posted that the time and date of Blackman's release would not be made public due to "privacy and safety concerns".

But in a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday afternoon, it said: "We are delighted to announce that Al will finally be released tomorrow after what has been a well fought battle by you all.”

Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford Court Martial in 2013 and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years.

This sentence was later reduced to eight years. His wife Claire led a campaign for Blackman to be released, which was taken up by the Daily Mail.

In March, his conviction for murder was quashed and replaced with manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

During the original trial in 2013, Blackman was known only as Marine A and his identity was made public after his conviction.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Justice refused to comment on when Blackman will be released.

The Court Martial Appeal Court found the killing was not a "cold-blooded execution" as the court martial concluded but the result of mental illness, an "adjustment disorder".

Judges described Blackman as "an exemplary soldier" before his deployment to Afghanistan in March 2011 but said he had suffered from "exceptional stressors" during that tour.

They found his ability to "form a rational judgment" was "substantially impaired".

Blackman shot the insurgent, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

He then quoted a phrase from Shakespeare - "shuffle off this mortal coil" - as the man convulsed and died in front of him.

The judges concluded that Blackman should be dismissed from the Royal Marines but not with disgrace.</s>Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, who shot dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, will be released from prison on Friday, campaigners said. The commando, who has spent more than three years in prison for killing the insurgent in 2011, will leave Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Falmouth Packet.</s>Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, who had his sentence reduced for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan, has been released from prison.



The commando, who spent more than three years in jail for killing the insurgent in 2011, left Erlestoke Prison just before 12.20am on Friday.

Blackman hid in the back of an unmarked police car as he was driven away from the prison near Devizes, Wiltshire.

He was originally convicted of murder but this was quashed by the courts martial appeal court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter last month.

Five judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an “abnormality of mental functioning” at the time of the incident, when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando. 



His sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he would be freed within weeks – a decision his wife Claire Blackman described as “the moment that we have all been fighting hard for”.

Speaking to the Daily Mail while awaiting her husband’s release, she said: “I haven’t slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas. We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time.

“I can’t wait to see him and spend some quality time together.”

Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford court martial in 2013 and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years. This sentence was later reduced to eight years.

His wife Claire led a campaign for Blackman to be released, which was taken up by the Daily Mail.

In March, his conviction for murder was quashed and replaced with manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.

During the original trial in 2013, Blackman was known only as Marine A. His identity was made public after his conviction.</s>Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, known as Marine A, was released from prison in the early hours of Friday.

The former Marine, who has served more than three years in prison for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2011, was driven away from HMP Erlestoke, Wiltshire, at around 12.20am.

Blackman sat in the backseat of a black Audi estate vehicle as he was taken away.

The commando was jailed for life after he was convicted of murder in 2013. The conviction was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court and replaced with diminished responsibility manslaughter last month, following a high-profile campaign to free him.

Five judges ruled that Blackman was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the incident, when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.</s>The Royal Marine jailed for killing an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has thanked his "wife in a million" as he spoke for the first time since being released from prison. Sergeant Alexander Blackman, 42, known as Marine A, said his partner Claire's determined fight for his release had "saved me". The commando described his release from prison after spending three years in jail as an "immense feeling". Sergeant Blackman was released from HMP Erlestoke, Wiltshire on Friday after having his murder conviction quashed last month and his sentence changed from life in prison to seven years for manslaughter. Known then as "Marine A", in 2013 Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford Court Martial over the fatal shooting of an injured Taliban insurgent in 2011 and jailed for life.

The appeal court accepted the grounds of diminished responsibility as he was suffering from a mental illness, known as adjustment disorder. It was argued that during his tour of duty in Helmand during 2011 Sergeant Blackman and his men had been overstretched and under resourced. "I will be eternally grateful to Claire and I cannot put into words how wonderful she is," he told the Daily Mail. "She is a wife in a million. Other inmates often said how lucky I was to have her fighting so hard for me. I don't think there is anybody who has witnessed the effort she has gone to who will doubt how she feels about me, and that's beyond words really. You just can't imagine anyone cares for you that much," he said. His life sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he was eligible for release on licence after serving half the term. Blackman said he was "very conscious" his sentence was not complete and he will have to adhere to the conditions of his parole - but he can now enjoy the "little things" such as walking, eating and sleeping when he chooses. He described the feeling of waking to "glorious birdsong" as a "massive contrast" to life at the Category C prison. Mrs Blackman fought for her husband's conviction to be reviewed and he was granted an appeal in February.

She told the Daily Mail how she felt a "surge of happiness" when she was reunited with her husband describing the moment as "like a dream". "We have spent so long on this rollercoaster ride and have always steeled ourselves for the worst-case scenario," she said. "Now we have got Al out, the result we always hoped for, it is taking time to sink in." The sergeant can no longer work for the military, however his dismissal with "disgrace" was overturned following the appeal. He has since received several job offers and his story has caught the eye of Hollywood, according to his barrister. Jonathan Goldberg QC told BBC News: "The case is controversial - this is obviously why Hollywood want to make a film about it. "I was there last week meeting some important people, and the idea is that Kate Winslet might be cast as Claire, Tom Hardy as Al and - can you believe it - Al Pacino as me."</s>The Royal Marine jailed for shooting dead a wounded Taliban fighter has been released from prison.

Sgt Alexander Blackman received a life term in 2013 for murder, but his conviction was reduced to manslaughter.

The 42-year-old from Taunton, Somerset, has served more than three years of a seven-year sentence.

Judges at the Court Martial Appeal Court were told he had a recognised mental illness at the time of the killing in September 2011.

Blackman - who was known as Marine A during the original trial process and fully identified when he was convicted - was serving his sentence at Erlestoke Prison, near Devizes, Wiltshire.

His original murder conviction was quashed in March.

The appeal hearing came after his wife Claire led a campaign alongside author Frederick Forsyth and the Daily Mail newspaper.

Blackman had more than 13 years of service and had previously been deployed to Iraq on three occasions and to Afghanistan in 2007.

His supporters had hoped the quashing of the murder conviction would lead to his reinstatement in the Royal Marines. However, the judges at the appeal hearing said his dismissal from the service should remain.

Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning

The killing on 15 September 2011 took place during the final month of 42 Commando's six-month tour of duty to Helmand province - a deployment which saw the unit lose seven men.

Footage from an unofficial helmet-mounted camera of another marine was found during an unrelated investigation and showed Blackman shooting the Afghan prisoner in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol.

The shooting took place after a British patrol base came under fire. One of two insurgents was seriously injured by gunfire from an Apache helicopter sent to provide air support, and the marines from 42 Commando found him in a field.

In their sentencing remarks, the judges said that although Blackman's responsibility was diminished, he "still retained a substantial responsibility for the deliberate killing".

They said other "aggravating factors" included the vulnerability of the insurgent, who could not defend himself, and "the decision to ensure that the killing was not witnessed by the overhead helicopter and thereafter to cover up the evidence of what had happened".

Two other marines from 42 Commando were tried alongside Blackman in 2013 but acquitted.

Blackman lost an appeal against his conviction in May of the following year, but his 10-year minimum term was reduced to eight years.

The Criminal Cases Review Commission later granted him a fresh appeal after his lawyers submitted expert evidence relating to his mental state at the time of the offence.
Sergeant Alexander Blackman, also known as Marine A, a Royal Marine who shot dead a wounded Taliban insurgent in 2011 during Operation Herrick, is released from HM Prison Erlestoke after serving more than three years of a seven-year sentence.