Judges dash hope of jailed UK marine returning home for Christmas

The British Royal Marine serving a life sentence for murdering a wounded Taliban fighter in 2011 was told by a judge Wednesday he must stay behind bars to await an appeal hearing.

Thousands of people signed a petition in the hope of Alexander Blackman, 42, from Taunton in Somerset, southern England, winning his freedom after the Criminal Cases Review Commission decided earlier this month to refer his murder conviction to the appeal court.

Blackman was sentenced to life in prison by a military court martial in 2013.

A year later, an appeal was turned down, but a second appeal will be held next year by a Court Martial Appeal Court.

The victim was killed in September 2011 after two insurgents launched an attack on a patrol base in Helmand province.

Blackman's wife Claire who was in the courtroom for the bail hearing, said later "We are obviously disappointed by the judges' decision not to grant bail this afternoon.

"However we must remember that earlier this month the Criminal Cases Review Commission decided to refer the case back to the Appeal Courts and this is the most important step towards getting Al's conviction and sentence overturned."

Blackman was not in court Wednesday to listen a hearing to decide if he should be given bail pending the appeal hearing.

Instead he watched the court proceedings through a video link from jail.

Blackman, previously referred to in legal papers as Marine A, was told by the original court he must serve at least 10 years in prison.

He was one of three Royal Marines tried by Court Martial for murder. His two co-defendants, referred to as Marine B and Marine C, were cleared of the charge.

During the original trial, Blackman said he believed the victim was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse. Endit