Wife makes bid to clear Marine A's name

Frederick Forsyth says the whole legal procedure surrounding Marine A was "absolutely flawed" and therefore the verdict was "unsafe".

The famous author has thrown his support behind a campaign to get Alexander Blackman's case referred back to the court of appeal. He has helped the family pay for fresh legal advice:

The wife of a former Royal Marine from Somerset jailed for killing a wounded Afghan fighter is beginning a fresh legal bid to clear his name.

Alexander Blackman is serving life for murder but hundreds of supporters are expected to join his wife Claire who is from Taunton when she applies to have the case referred back to the Court of Appeal.

She says the charge should have been manslaughter because of combat stress.

A former Royal Marine from Taunton found guilty of murdering a Taliban fighter was suffering from a 'recognised mental illness' at the time that went undiagnosed - according to psychiatrists.

A report found Alexander Blackman was struggling with combat stress and had an 'adjustment disorder'. There is an appeal to reduce his charge to manslaughter. The Ministry of Defence say it has followed the legal process throughout the case.

Our political correspondent Bob Constantine spoke exclusively to the wife of jailed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman, Claire, following the debate in parliament, which she said left her feeling "very positive".

The wife of jailed Royal Marine Alexander Blackman has been in Parliament today as MPs debated his case. Plymouth-based Sgt Blackman is serving an eight-year jail term, after being convicted of murdering a wounded Taliban fighter.

Claire Blackman has said she will not give up the fight to clear his name - and described today as 'a good step forward'.

Supportive MP Richard Drax described Sgt Blackman as a "decent man pushed beyond endurance", however today the MoD agreed to release a full report which accuses him of slipping to "unacceptably low standards".

A review has found that Royal Marine Alexander Blackman - who is in jail for the murder of a Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan - let professional standards "slip to an unacceptable low level".

The redacted internal report, released by the Royal Navy, said Sgt Blackman showed 'poor leadership' and 'moral disengagement' when he shot a wounded insurgent in 2011.

He is serving an eight-year jail sentence after being convicted of murder by a court martial.

His wife, Claire, is leading a campaign to free her husband, which has gained the backing of MP Richard Drax and author Frederick Forsythe.

You can read the report on the Government's website.