Ex-servicemen from Northants to attend show of support for Royal Marine convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield

Ex-servicemen from Northamptonshire are set to take part in a show of support outside the Houses of Parliament for a Royal Marine veteran who has been convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield.
Jeff Williams is organising a show of support outside the Houses of Parliament for a Royal Marine convicted of murder on a foreign battlefieldJeff Williams is organising a show of support outside the Houses of Parliament for a Royal Marine convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield
Jeff Williams is organising a show of support outside the Houses of Parliament for a Royal Marine convicted of murder on a foreign battlefield

Jeff Williams, a former Royal Marine sergeant major, has organised an event in Parliament Square on Wednesday, October 28, to raise awareness of the case of Sgt Alexander Blackman, known as ‘Marine A’, who shot a dying Taliban gunman in Afghanistan in 2011.

Sgt Alexander Blackman was convicted of murder in a military court and given a life prison sentence.

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He has already served two years’ imprisonment in a civilian prison and has been discharged from the Royal Marines and stripped of his pension rights

Mr Williams believes Sgt Blackman was the victim of a miscarriage of justice and is trying to raise awareness of his case, which is being put forward to the Criminal Case Review Commission (CCRC).

If the CCRC accept to review the case, they may grant an appeal where all the evidence will be re-heard.

Mr Williams said: “Our current main aim is to ensure that Al receives a trial that hears every single bit of evidence.

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“We want him to be released as we believe there has been a miscarriage of justice.”

Mr Williams said he hoped more than a 1000 ex-servicemen, including a number from Northamptonshire, would be attending the show of support next Wednesday.