Marine A Sgt Blackman speaks out for first time since prison release

Sgt Alexander Blackman has given his first interview since being released from prison over the charged murder of an injured Taliban fighter.

The 42-year-old - who became known as Marine A during his trial - was released in April after his conviction was reduced from murder to manslaughter following a lengthy court battle.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Sgt Blackman admitted that he had “made a terrible mistake”.

He added: “I don’t know why I did it. I think about it a lot and have done ever since, but I still can’t put an exact thought to why I did what I did at that moment in time. I wish I could.”

Sgt Blackman puts his actions down to “frustration more than anything” and feeling vulnerable.

“There had already been a reasonably large attack on a friendly base. We didn’t know where the other guy (a second armed Taliban insurgent) was or if there was a third out there,” he explained, before saying it was a "really good feeling" to have his freedom back after three-and-a-half years behind bars.