- Target:
- 10000
- Region:
- United Kingdom
A Royal Marine has been found guilty by a military court of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent, in what the prosecution called "an execution".
Two other marines, known as B and C, were acquitted over the shooting of the unknown man while they were on patrol in Helmand, Afghanistan, in 2011.
Marine A faces a mandatory life sentence and was taken into custody.
Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration".
It is the first time British forces have faced a murder charge in relation to the conflict in Afghanistan, said BBC defence correspondent Caroline Wyatt.
There were tears from their families as the verdicts were read at the Military Court Centre in Wiltshire.
Marines B and C are now free to return to military service, the judge said.
'9mm pistol'
Marine B had inadvertently filmed the murder, which happened on 15 September 2011, on his helmet-mounted camera and the footage was shown to the court during the two-week trial.
It showed Marine A shooting the Afghan prisoner with a 9mm pistol, and saying: "There, shuffle off this mortal coil... It's nothing you wouldn't do to us."
We, the undersigned, demand that the British Royal Marine jailed for shooting an insurgent be freed at the earliest possible date & that the Rules of Engagement be updated so as to give a better chance of survival to the serving British Soldier.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Release The British Royal Marine petition to 10000 was written by Graham Warner and is in the category Military at GoPetition.