A former Royal Marine jailed for life with a minimum term of 10 years after being found guilty of the murder of an injured insurgent in Afghanistan has lodged an appeal.
The move by Sergeant Alexander Blackman, who was also dismissed from the marines when he was sentenced in December, was confirmed by the Judicial Office.
On November 8 a court martial board in Bulford, Wiltshire found 39-year-old Blackman guilty of murdering the insurgent who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter in Helmand more than two years ago.
Two other marines were acquitted. Charges against a further two were previously discontinued.
Blackman, who denied murder, had 15 years’ service in the Royal Marines and was in charge of Command Post Omar in Helmand during Operation Herrick 14 in 2011.
He shot the unknown insurgent in the chest but said he believed the man was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse.
After his sentencing on December 6, Blackman said he was “devastated” at being handed a life sentence.
The married commando, known to friends and family as Al, said he was “very sorry” for his actions, which were filmed on the headcam of a comrade.
