Alexander blackman daily mail

You're referring to the case of Alexander Blackman, a British Royal Marine who was convicted of murder in 2011.

Alexander Blackman, a 39-year-old Royal Marine, was found guilty of murdering an injured Taliban insurgent in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2011. The incident occurred on September 15, 2011, during a patrol in the Nahr-e Saraj district.

According to reports, Blackman, who was a corporal at the time, shot the insurgent in the chest while he was lying wounded on the ground. The killing was captured on video by a fellow Marine, who later testified against Blackman.

Blackman was arrested and charged with murder, and his trial began in 2013. During the trial, Blackman claimed that he had acted in self-defense, saying that the insurgent was still a threat and that he had been ordered to "finish him off" by his commanding officer.

However, the prosecution argued that Blackman had acted with premeditation and had deliberately killed the insurgent. The court heard that Blackman had previously expressed frustration and anger towards the Taliban and had made comments about killing wounded insurgents.

On March 7, 2013, Blackman was found guilty of murder and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 10 years. The Daily Mail reported on the case extensively, with headlines such as "Royal Marine's 'cowardly' murder of Taliban fighter" and "Marine's 'barbaric' killing of wounded Taliban".

Blackman's case sparked a debate about the rules of engagement in war and the treatment of wounded enemy combatants. Some argued that Blackman's actions were justified, while others condemned them as a violation of international humanitarian law.

In 2017, Blackman's conviction was reduced to manslaughter on appeal, and he was released from prison after serving seven years of his sentence. The Daily Mail reported on the appeal and Blackman's release, with headlines such as "Royal Marine's murder conviction quashed" and "Marine's 'cowardly' killing of Taliban fighter: Conviction reduced to manslaughter".

The case of Alexander Blackman remains controversial, with some arguing that he was unfairly treated and others condemning his actions as a violation of human rights.