Plymouth Royal Marine found guilty of murder of Afghan
A Plymouth based Royal Marine has been found guilty by a military court of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent in 2011.
The marine, a sergeant who can be known only as Marine A, faces a mandatory life sentence for the shooting of the unknown man in what the prosecution described as "an execution", in Helmand Province in Afghanistan.
The two other marines charged were cleared at the Military Court Centre in Wiltshire.
Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration".
Marine A was taken into custody and will be sentenced on 6 December. The other two marines, known as Marine B and Marine C are now able to return to military service.
An anonymity order granted last year to protect the men from possible reprisals remains in place.
The murder was filmed inadvertently by Marine B on his helmet-mounted camera. The footage, showing Marine A shooting the Afghan prisoner was shown to the court.
In the film, Marine A is heard to say: "There, shuffle off this mortal coil... It's nothing you wouldn't do to us."
He goes on: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention," to which Marine B replies: "Yeah, roger mate"
A recording of a conversation between the marines at the scene of the shooting was released by the judge on Thursday (7 November).
Prosecutor David Perry told the court it was "not a killing in the heat and exercise of any armed conflict... it amounted to an execution".
Brigadier Dunham, deputy commandant of the General Royal Marines, said: "It is a matter of profound regret that in this isolated incident one marine failed to apply his training and discharge his responsibilities.
"What we have heard over the past two weeks is not consistent with the ethos, values and standards of the Royal Marines.
"It was a truly shocking and appalling aberration. It should not have happened and it should never happen again."
Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett said the issue of the marines' anonymity would be re-examined at a later date.
