Excellent news. Sgt Alexander Blackman has his sentence reduced.

Jacksmum*
I wonder how his family felt about the 140 Afghan Soldiers that the Taliban blew up less than 2 weeks ago, they probably celebrated.

Of course these people don't have feelings or grieve for their sons, fathers, husbands, etc...do they?

Good, sensitive post Iam64

We don't know what the mindset of the family of a Taliban killer is like, do we. They could be horrified that their son/husband had turned to such a murderous way of life but still loved him despite that, or they could have been encouraging him in his fundamentalism and murdering of Afghan women and children - the ordinary Afghan people that Sgt Blackman was defending.

But we don't know how many if any he had killed, just as we know the marine killed one but if more or not we don't know.

I just don't understand why his defence st the first trial didn't go for the PTS plea

jacksmum

In all probability they would have preferred for him to have killed 20 Marines , who knows perhaps he had.

I wonder how the family are feeling of the man he killed ? must be heartbreaking for them,

One Al Pacino film I shall pass on.

It was on the news this morning.....

"But it also emerged that his lawyer, Jonathan Goldberg QC, has been in Hollywood talking to a producer about the possibility of a film being made about the Marine A saga.

The barrister said there was talk of Blackman being played by Tom Hardy, Claire Blackman by Kate Winslet and Goldberg himself by Al Pacino."

Is there definitely going to be a film? I haven't read anything about it.

This is the aspect that I find concerning too annie - it really does seem very wrong indeed that he should gain money from this.

The decision for him to have the conviction turned into manslaughter and for his mental health problems to be taken into consideration are entirely correct; but the rest is just totally unacceptable.

Iam, I think a book and film rights are so wrong, sorry we cannot sgree on this, one man killed, one man served a prison sentence for manslaughter , the film will make him a hero and I find this most uncomfortable to accept

I haven't heard anyone here (or anywhere else) calling him a hero Anniebach. His actions were wrong, he has accepted that, he has a conviction for manslaughter. None of that downplays what he did. What has happened, is that the mental health problems he was living with, probably directly linked too the 'tour from hell', precipitated him taking action he never had before and now, will never do again.
Given the positive thread on gransnet currently which discusses mental health and the need for more compassionate understanding of those who experience significant mental health, trauma, addiction etc I'd hope most of us would at least acknowledge this man was driven beyond the point of his competence.
Most of us do not support the recent wars our government has sent the military to fight in. In my case, that doesn't mean I don't support the men and women sent on these missions.

I too am pleased he has returned to his family, he was found guilty of manslaughter not murder.

A book and a film? No, he is not a hero

I suppose we must agree to disagree .

I remain very happy to know he has returned to his family.

Sorry, in the film

So a killer becomes a hero, will Arnie play him inbghecfilm

Agree luckygirl, time for him to quietly retreat from the spotlight now

So...he commits a cold-blooded murder - under the stress of war - so, taking that into account, it is right that he has now been released.

But....he is to sell the book rights and Hollywood is thinking of making a film, and he will make a load of dosh out of it - now that is just not right.

I hope the family of the dead man also find peace

I hope he find peace. Both in the mind and in his life. I wish him and his family well.

Amen to that.

I hope so as well POGS. I suspect he, his wife and loved one's will face trials but I'm relieved he's been released and wish them well.

Bump

I am so pleased Sgt Blackman will be released tomorrow.

I did not start a new thread as it is the conclusion this one.

I hope he has a happy future ahead of him.

Which of course is what Tony Blair did!! The road to hell is often paved with good intentions! I really don't know what the answers are. If only human beings could live peacefully together, a forlorn hope I know!

So do we keep out of foriegn wars and let the despots carry on committing heinous crimes against their own people.
I have a delemer with this as I'm someone who wants to jump in and help people when people can't help themselves. But in these huge problems I know the consequences.