A hugely experienced Royal Marine who completed tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and northern Ireland during his military career faces a life sentence for murder today. Sergeant Alexander Wayne Blackman (39), whose name was made public for the first time yesterday after a ruling by top judges at the High court in London, will learn his fate for killing an injured insurgent in Afghanistan. On november 8 a court martial board in Bulford, Wiltshire, convicted him of murdering the man - who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter - in Helmand province more than two years ago. Blackman had 15 years' experience in the marines, having joined in 1998, and was in charge of command Post omar in Helmand during operation Herrick 14 in 2011. He shot the insurgent in the chest but said he believed the victim was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse. Blackman was previously referred to in court as Marine A. His name was disclosed following a ruling by Lord chief Justice Lord Thomas, Mr Justice Tugendhat and Mr Justice Holroyde, which lifted an anonymity order preventing him being identified. They also said two acquitted servicemen should be named - but their identities will not be released pending a possible supreme court challenge. * SHOT WOUNDED INSURGENT IN CHEST: Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Wayne Blackman
