SIR – The Royal Marine accused of killing an armed Afghan terrorist has been found guilty and sentenced to a life term with a recommendation he serves a minimum of ten years.
Whatever we think about his actions, his identity should have been protected to avoid his family being subjected to the very real threat of reprisals from the Taliban supporters so entrenched in our country.
I believe the length of his sentence is appaling and an insult to the men and women we send to these dreadful places and fight for lost causes. We then expect them to behave in an exemplary fashion at all times, even when faced with the mutilated bodies of their comrades being hung in trees.
We train our armed forces to the highest levels of aggression, subject them to unbelievable levels of tension and then hang them out to dry when they step over a very fine line. I sincerely hope the appeal judges see some sense and reduce his sentence dramatically and that his family are not subjected to any harm.
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