A ROYAL Marine serving life after being found guilty of murdering an injured Afghan fighter has been refused bail pending a new challenge against his conviction.

Marine A, Alexander Blackman of Taunton is serving life after being found guilty of murdering an injured Afghan fighter.

Sergeant Blackman, 42, failed to persuade two judges at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London to free him from prison.

Blackman watched Wednesday's proceedings via video link from jail.

His wife Claire, whoo was hoping to have her husband home for Christmas, was in the packed courtroom with dozens of supporters.

There was a loud sigh of disappointment from supporters in the public gallery as the decision to refuse bail was announced by Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, sitting with Mr Justice Sweeney.

The CCRC referred the case for review following an 11-month "in-depth" investigation.

It announced it had concluded that a number of new issues, including fresh evidence relating to Blackman's mental state, "raise a real possibility" that the Court Martial Appeal Court "will now quash Mr Blackman's murder conviction".

Speaking outside of the courts, Mrs Blackman said she was looking forward to the appeal process continuing.

She ssaid: "We are obviously disappointed by the judges' decision not to grant bail this afternoon.

"However we must remember that earlier this month the Criminal Cases Review Commission decided to refer the case back to the Appeal Courts and this is the most important step towards getting Al's conviction and sentence overturned.

"We are grateful to the courts for expediting the appeal process."

It is said that his appeal will be heard early in the new year - possibly January or February.

Lawyers for Sergeant Alexander Blackman, 42, urged judges at the Court Martial Appeal Court in London to grant him bail.

Somerset County Gazette: Alexander Blackman's wife, Claire, attends the rally in Parliament Square in London in support of her husband. Picture:  Nick Ansell/PA Wire

The move followed the announcement by the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC), the independent body that investigates possible miscarriages of justice, of its decision to refer Blackman's conviction and sentence to the court for review.

The application was heard last Friday, but Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas and Mr Justice Openshaw adjourned the case until today.


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Lord Thomas said the court would decide the issue of bail after hearing submissions from the prosecution on the stance it is taking on new evidence relating to Blackman's mental state.

He said last week: "As that decision is central to the way in which the appeal will be heard and the timescale within which it can be heard, including the probability of hearing it within weeks, the court considers that the interests of justice are best-served by adjourning this application until next week."

Lord Thomas announced: "When the court receives the Crown's indication of its stance, it will then determine the issue of bail and give further directions."

Blackman was convicted in November 2013 by a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years.

In May 2014, the Court Martial Appeal Court rejected his conviction challenge, but reduced the minimum term - the least he must serve before becoming eligible to apply for parole - to eight years because of the combat stress disorder he was suffering from at the time of the incident.

The killing happened in Helmand province in 2011 while Blackman was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.

He 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 before quoting a phrase from Shakespeare as the man convulsed and died in front of him.

Blackman told him: ''There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. It's nothing you wouldn't do to us.''

He then turned to comrades and said: ''Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.''


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The shooting was captured on a camera mounted on the helmet of another Royal Marine.

During his trial, Blackman - who denied murder and was known at that stage as Marine A - said he believed the victim was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse.

He was ''dismissed with disgrace'' from the Royal Marines after serving with distinction for 15 years, including tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

After an 11-month investigation, the CCRC announced it had concluded that a number of new issues "raise a real possibility" that the Court Martial Appeal Court "will now quash Mr Blackman's murder conviction".