My Faith In Military Justice Is Feeling A Bit Stronger This Afternoon

[jake-the-peg]

Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman gets life with at least 10 years

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-25266206

I was concerned we'd see a slap on the wrist but I think this sends a fairly strong message that this is not excusable behavior

You may all shout me down now

[FredPuli43]

ChillDoubt,there is a good reason why an ordinary soldier is only tried people of warrant officer and above. Having appeared for soldiers in courts martial, I can confidently say that the court decides what is best for the Army. The results are sometimes puzzling to outsiders; the sentences are lower than in civilian courts, but the Army does its damndest to only convict on the lowest possible charge. If the man has been a good soldier and the Army wants to keep its image and keep the case out of the headlines, it will. Hence my story of attempted murder in Germany which got reduced to assault and not even a s18 wounding (or gbh) with intent to do gbh, at that. Since the soldier had chased an NCO down a corridor, yelling that he would kill him, and let fire at close range, hitting the victim who, fortunately, was partly shielded by the door he was opening to escape, that surprised even me . Of course, none of this trial and plea got anywhere near the media. Mission accomplished !

Only persons of warrant officer and above are considered suitably experienced to judge what is best for the Army.

[anotheoldgit]

/// "While we acknowledge your personal circumstances and the immense pressure you were under, we note that thousands of other service personnel have experienced the same or similar stresses. ///

/// "They exercised self-discipline and acted properly and humanely; you did not." ///

Neither did thousands of other service personnel suffer from shell shock but some did, and these few suffered the consequence of being tied to a pole and shot.

Who can say for certain that certain pressures don't effect some, take those mothers who leave their new born babies out in the cold to die, are these also murderers?

[Gromit]

Is this the first time AOG has defended a Blackman?

[ChillDoubt]

Ba dum tssh!

[ludwig]

// However, nobody on this thread has after all suggested that this man really should serve a life sentence (let alone that he should face execution). Perhaps AB hardliners are softening as the Christmas season approaches. //

Perhaps they don't think the crime is comparable to say a person who pre-meditates the abduction, rape, and murder of children - or or terrorist that plants a bomb in a public place to murder multiple civilians indiscriminately. These are normally the things that have people calling for life imprisonment (in it's true sense) or the death penalty.

[emmie]

or stoning to death of so called adulterers, that is going to be reintroduced in Afghanistan i believe, though i was listening with half a mind, the other half having gone awol a long time ago.

[emmie]

can anyone think of a more barbaric so called punishment, nor did i realise that it is so prevalent.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/special-report-the-punishment-was-death-by-stoning-the-crime-having-a-mobile-phone-8846585.html