Marine From Plymouth Based 42 Commando Named

5 December 2013, 14:20 | Updated: 5 December 2013, 14:34

A Royal Marine from Plymouth-based 42 Commando has lost his court fight to remain anonymous.

Alexander Blackman , 39, was found guilty of murdering an Afghan prisoner while on tour in Helmand on the 8th of November. 

Throughout his court martial, Blackman was only known as 'Marine A'. Today a judge has ruled that we can know his name. 

Blackman appealed this decision claiming his life and the life of his family could be put at risk if his identity became known. 

However, he lost the High Court appeal today. Two other Marines who had charges dropped against them have also been told they will be named publicly, but this has been put on hold pending a possible appeal. 

The murder happened five months into an six-month tour of Helmand province in 2011, known as Operation Herrick 14. 

Blackman was the senior non-commissioned officer in charge of the command post and was tasked with mentoring many young troops on their first deployment overseas with 42 Commando. 

He'll be sentenced for the murder tomorrow.