A storm has erupted after the head of the Royal Marines branded one of his men a war criminal for killing a wounded Taliban gunman.
Lt Gen Rob Magowan, Commandant General of the Royal Marines, said it was a “shocking and appalling” war crime.
It is believed to be the first time a serving senior officer has used the term to describe the shooting by Sgt Alexander Blackman – known as Marine A.
Lt Gen Magowan wrote to members of his Corps to mark the anniversary of the killing, which he said had fractured moral cohesion within the Royal Marines.
He said in the letter: “To be clear, the illegal killing of an injured Taliban insurgent in Afghanistan in 2011 by a then sergeant in the Royal Marines was truly shocking and appalling. This was a war crime, irreconcilable with the values which underpin our Corps’ ethos.
“No one is blind to the fact that the Marine A incident remains an emotive topic, especially for those who may be dealing with the mental health impacts of their operational service.”
The general said learning from the incident was now entrenched in Royal Marine training. He also revealed that a secret report into the killing would never be made public.
But one of Sgt Blackman’s former colleagues hit out at the remarks.
Ex-Sgt Major Jeff Williams said: “It is very disappointing to see the head of the Royal Marines referring to Sgt Blackman as a war criminal.
“This offence was committed at a time when he was mentally unwell. He is not a war criminal but someone who was failed by the system. He was failed by the chain of command as well.”
Sgt Blackman, 47, shot dead the wounded Taliban fighter in Helmand. He was convicted of murder in 2013 and sentenced to life.
That was later cut to eight years and his conviction was reduced to manslaughter after the Court of Appeal accepted Sgt Blackman was suffering from an adjustment disorder.
His wife Claire refused to comment on the general’s letter but she did confirm her husband was no longer suffering from a mental health condition.
A friend of the couple, who live in Taunton, Somerset, said: “They are very disappointed by the term war crime. They now just want to get on with their lives and keep a low profile.”
A Royal Navy spokesperson said: “As a result of the Blackman case, lessons have been learnt which continue to enhance future operational effectiveness, keep our people safe and ensure the Royal Marines continue to be a force that reflects the values of the society it serves.
“The RN co-operated fully with all legal processes associated with the Blackman case and respected the decisions of each respective court including the final decision to reduce the conviction to manslaughter confirming this remained an unlawful killing.”
