Of note for UK Defence news this morning, the Daily Mail splashes on the ‘Marine A’ case as a new campaign is launched to get the authorities to reconsider the sentence of Sgt Alexander Blackman
- thought to be the only British serviceman convicted of murder on a battlefield. The paper says it believes evidence not presented to the court martial should have seen the Royal Marine facing a lesser charge of manslaughter. The story has been picked up widely across online and broadcast outlets.
‘Marine A’ conviction
The Daily Mail reports the launch of a campaign, spearheaded by author Frederick Forsyth, calling for a legal appeal to the murder conviction of Sergeant Alexander Blackman. He is currently serving a life sentence, with a minimum term of eight years, after being found guilty of murdering a Taliban fighter in Helmand in September 2011 - in what was widely known as the ‘Marine A’ case. The newspaper claims “crucial evidence” and a potentially key witness were not heard during Sgt Blackman’s court martial. Had this evidence been heard, the Daily Mail and Sgt Blackman’s supporters claim, he may have faced a lesser charge of manslaughter.
In the Daily Mail it is reported that the new campaign will seek to persuade the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the case to the Court Martials Appeal Court. As a result it would not be appropriate for the MOD to comment on either the specifics of the Blackman case or the potential legal processes discussed in the Daily Mail’s article. Our statement on this issue is below.
A MOD spokesperson said:
The MOD followed and supported the legal process throughout. This involved a full criminal investigation and a court martial where witnesses were called by both the independent Service Prosecution Authority and defence counsel. We respect the authority and decision of the court and would, of course, co-operate fully with any future legal process. It would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.
Syria air strike
The Guardian reports that Britain's envoy to the United Nations has provided a further legal justification for the RAF killing of ISIL fighters in Syria, declaring that it was on behalf of the "collective self-defence of Iraq". However, the new explanation, which was not disclosed to MPs when the Prime Minister first told the House of Commons about the killings, has prompted Labour leadership front runner Jeremy Corbyn to accuse the prime minister of facing "two ways" on Syria. David Davis, the former shadow home secretary, said the Government should consult MPs on the grounds that the letter by Matthew Rycroft, the UK's permanent representative to the UN in New York, appeared to show a "material change of strategy".
The Daily Mail reports on comments made by Jeremy Corbyn that he didn’t see the point of strikes on jihadis.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon has said:
We have always been clear that Isil has to be defeated in Syria and Iraq. Isil is organised and directed and administered from Syria and there is an illogicality about not being able to do it. The US and others are striking in Syria which means we can play our part in Iraq. I think MPs will want to think about how we best deal with ISIL.
Afghan interpreters
The Daily Telegraph says that Britain will struggle to recruit interpreters in future conflict zones if it 'hangs out to dry' those who helped troops in Afghanistan, according to Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee Dr Julian Lewis. His comments follow a letter from the Committee to the Secretary of State urging him to allow up to 200 Afghan Interpreters to be allowed to live in the UK.
You can read what Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt has to say about all the UK Government is doing to support interpreters here.
Russia influence
The Times reports that a Russian-led coup inside east Ukraine's rebel leadership saw Russian security forces kidnap the hardline Speaker of the rebel parliament last week, according to Ukraine intelligence. Andrei Purgin was held with his wife for five days in the security headquarters of his comrades in Donetsk, before being replaced by his more conciliatory deputy, Denis Pushilin. The move, along with an increase in military engagement in Syria, herald a strategic shift in Moscow's approach to the West, despite President Putin’s attempt to present himself as a peace broker.
Arms Fair
The Independent reports that regimes criticised for "appalling" human rights records have been extended official invitations by the Government to attend the world's largest arms and security fair in London. The list of countries invited by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) to attend the Defence and Security Equipment International Exhibition (DSEI) exhibition next includes countries criticised by campaigners for gross infringements of civil liberties, including Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Egypt and Thailand.
An HMG spokesperson said:
The Government undertakes a stringent process of scrutiny and approval before issuing any formal invitations to foreign governments to attend a major UK defence exhibition like DSEI. A country would not be invited where that would be contrary to the UK’s international obligations. Respect for human rights is a mandatory consideration in the process. Invitations are reviewed if the situation in any one country changes significantly prior to an exhibition.
HRH also presented four Long Service and Good Conduct clasps for 30 years service to personnel who have shown exemplary behaviour - including one for the Commodore RFA Cdre Rob Dorey.
Personnel on board RFA Argus have been awarded Ebola campaign medals following a six-month deployment to West Africa.
The Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship deployed to Sierra Leone in October 2014 with more than 350 Tri-Service personnel on board - and returned to Falmouth in April this year.
The Earl of Wessex then had a tour of the RFA and was able to meet many members of the Ship's Company.
Pictured: Commanding Officer RFA Argus Captain David Eagles accepts the James Coull Memorial Award on behalf of the whole ships company in recognition of their work in the international Ebola relief effort.
LA(PHOT) Keith Morgan
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