Let sergeant get on with his life
Now that the case is 'over' and Sergeant Blackman is not guilty of murder perhaps one should take a quick look at history? Has no British soldier ever shot a 'prisoner'? Obviously this has happened in the past. The difference between then and now? No one had a mobile device to record it. It was never 'passed up' the line to senior officers, it happened and it was either ignored or no action was taken by the authorities. And it's not just British soldiers who've done this, every army has, it's just either been condoned by senior officers - seemingly as USA officers did after the Malmady murders in 1944, when German soldiers were shot out of hand by USA troops - or possibly not reported with the collusion of the media. It happens.
Sergeant Blackman had served in a very stressful place, seen comrades killed and/or had their bodies hacked apart by the enemy. It's no surprise that he probably was suffering some sort of mental health issues. I'm sorry but the people who brought this case, then did not allow full disclosure of all the facts to Sergeant Blackman's initial defence team really ought to face not just censure but the full force of the law.
Let's see them in court now - and without the benefit of the legal aid system - and hear their answers to why they behaved as they did. It won't happen of course. If it did it may open 'can of worms' for Government too, then Ministers if the crown would also have to answer for their comments and actions at the time.
Maybe the Secretary of Defence of the day may explain his comments at the time. For those of you unaware of this 'gentleman’s' name I believe it was Philip Hammond, present Chancellor of the Exchequer! He along with other senior government officials and high ranking military officers should be made to answer for their words and actions at that time. It won't happen; all we can hope for now is that Sergeant Blackman can be allowed to get on with his life with his family after his release from prison.
M Gough
Wombourne
