Afghan murder trial: Marines released on bail

Five Royal Marines charged with the murder of a captured Afghan national appeared in court yesterday.

The commandos were charged with murder following an incident believed to have happened in September last year in Afghanistan.

The men, who for legal reasons can only be referred to as Marines A, B, C, D and E, attended for a plea and case management hearing at the Military Court Centre in Bulford, Wiltshire, but the case was adjourned to March 8.

The five Marines sat behind a white screen in the packed courtroom as they listened to legal argument from the prosecution and defence.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013

Prosecutor David Perry told Judge Advocate General Jeff Blackett that there was "good reason" for the case to be adjourned.

Mr Perry said: "What we would seek is a date for an effective plea and case management hearing.

"They (defence counsel) have not had the benefit of considering all the material.

"I wonder if your honour will accept from me that there is good reason they should not be arraigned. We are all confident if that date is fixed for the plea and case management hearing on March 8 it would be properly effective."

The judge told the court he would therefore list the case for a hearing on that date.

The court also heard that the trial would be set for a date not before September 1 next year.

After the first hearing in October, which was held behind closed doors, a judge granted the Marines anonymity due to a "real and immediate risk" to the men's lives.

Since then further orders have been granted extending the anonymity order.

Judge Blackett released the Marines on conditional bail.