Hundreds of Marine A's supporters flock to court to learn today if he will be freed for Christmas ahead of his appeal against conviction for murdering Taliban fighter
'Marine A' Alexander Blackman could be a free man as early as tonight
Hundreds of supporters including his wife will swamp London court today
Official review has cast doubt on his conviction for killing Taliban insurgent
It is a big victory for Daily Mail readers who backed his campaign for justice
He was convicted of shooting an insurgent who was already fatally wounded
By Sam Greenhill, Chief Reporter For The Daily Mail and Martin Robinson, Uk Chief Reporter For Mailonline
PUBLISHED: 08:32 GMT, 16 December 2016 | UPDATED: 10:19 GMT, 16 December 2016
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Court battle: Jailed Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman has won the right to a fresh appeal - today he will learn if he'll be with his family for Christmas
Hundreds of supporters of 'Marine A' Alexander Blackman will swamp the Royal Courts of Justice today in the hope a judge orders his freedom before Christmas.
Former servicemen and members of the public have vowed 'to show Al he is not alone' at his crucial bail application.
The jailed Royal Marine will remain in his cell during the hearing, at which England's top judge will decide whether he deserves to be released pending his fresh appeal.
But his wife Claire, his team of lawyers funded by Daily Mail readers, and dozens of supporters are expected to pack the Lord Chief Justice's historic Court 4.
She has said she was 'trying hard not to get excited' about his possible release.
'We think we've got a really strong application for bail and we're hopeful, of course - it would be amazing, it would be fantastic, but one step at a time,' she said.
If Lord Thomas, sitting with Mr Justice Openshaw, accepts his bail arguments, he could be a free man as early as tonight.
Sgt Blackman has spent three years in HMP Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, for the shooting of a wounded Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2011.
His lawyer Jonathan Goldberg QC will say he is a 'man of integrity' who ought to be released, and will also highlight his acute 'debt of gratitude' to his backers - including Daily Mail readers - as among the reasons he would not abscond if released.
Four backers have offered to stand him £50,000 bail each to guarantee he will not flee justice, known as sureties.
They are thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, MP Richard Drax, former special forces chief Major General John Holmes, and former Marine John Davies, who said: 'Al won't be in court but an awful lot of his supporters we will be there to show him that he's not alone.
'We need to show Al that we will stand shoulder to shoulder with him right until the very end. This could have been any one of us.'
Former Royal Marine Commandos show their support by walking from Parliament Square to Downing Street in October 2015 - they are expected to return to court later today
Wedding day: Sgt Alexander Blackman with his wife Claire when they married - the family hope they'll be reunited today
If Sgt Blackman is freed on bail, Mr Davies has offered him a job, the court will hear.
Since leaving the Marines, owing to combat injuries, Mr Davies has set up a first aid and survival skills training company for professionals such as firefighters and medics, and Sgt Blackman is to be offered work there while he awaits his appeal next year.
Mr Goldberg will tell the court the former commando is keen to take a job and do something useful while awaiting his next day in court.
But his wife Claire, his team of lawyers funded by Daily Mail readers, and dozens of supporters are expected to pack the Lord Chief Justice's historic Court 4
The hearing starts at 2pm and will be presided over by Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the most senior judge in England and Wales.
Sgt Blackman's lawyers will also submit a plea from his former commanding officer, hailing him as 'a normal citizen tainted only by the impact of war'.
Sgt Blackman, who was known at his court martial as Marine A, shot the Taliban insurgent who had been wounded during an attack on a British base in Afghanistan. He was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum of ten years, later cut to eight.
Last week he was granted a fresh appeal by the Criminal Cases Review Commission which said there was 'a real possibility' his 2013 conviction would be quashed.
His lawyers believe he has a good chance of being granted release on bail pending the new appeal, which will not be heard until the summer or autumn.
Mr Goldberg QC will tell the court Sgt Blackman knows he owes it to his supporters not to abscond, if he was granted bail.
He said: 'Tens of thousands of ordinary people have contributed donations to the Justice for Sgt Blackman campaign organised by the Daily Mail which has paid the legal fees to prepare this fresh appeal.
'Thousands of former Royal Marines have peacefully held rallies and demonstrated in Parliament Square and Birmingham. He is a man of great integrity who acutely feels a duty and a debt of gratitude to them. He will follow due process meticulously.'
The Mail's long battle to win justice
Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was the first known British serviceman to be jailed for murder on a foreign battlefield.
SAM GREENHILL charts the case and the path to justice.
CASUALTY OF WAR
DECEMBER 7, 2013
The Daily Mail reports how Sergeant Alexander Blackman, previously named only as Marine A, was jailed for life after shooting a fatally injured Taliban fighter.
A SHAMEFUL INJUSTICE
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
The Mail uncovers vital evidence that was 'deliberately withheld'. One officer quit his commission in disgust at being blocked from testifying in support of Sgt Blackman.
FALL GUY FOR A FIASCO
SEPTEMBER 11, 2015
Sgt Blackman tells the Mail about the 'tour from hell' in Afghanistan. He says one mistake under extreme stress made him the fall guy.
September 11, 2015
COVER-UP PLOT EXPOSED
SEPTEMBER 12, 2015
The Ministry of Defence is accused of cover-ups, including trying to censor an internal report casting doubt on the Marine's conviction.
BOMBSHELL REPORT LEAKED
SEPTEMBER 17, 2015
The internal report is leaked to the Mail. It reveals Sgt Blackman was failed by senior officers and put under unimaginable pressure.
FAMILIES JOIN CAMPAIGN
SEPTEMBER 21, 2015
Families of Marines killed by the Taliban on Sgt Blackman's 'tour from hell' poignantly join the campaign to review his conviction.
FIGHTING FUND TOPS £750K
OCTOBER 5, 2015
In less than a month, generous Mail readers raise an incredible £750,000 – enough to fund a team of lawyers to pursue a new appeal.
September 17, 2015
DEFIANCE OF THE MARINES
OCTOBER 28, 2015
Royal Marines past and present rally in Parliament Square in support of their jailed comrade.
SHAMEFUL PLOT
DECEMBER 12, 2015
We expose a plot to keep Sgt Blackman behind bars. A leaked document reveals the determination of senior officers to block efforts to overturn his conviction.
APPEAL IS LAUNCHED
DECEMBER 16, 2015
Accompanied by 500 green beret-wearing supporters, Sgt Blackman's wife Claire delivers a seven-file dossier to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
WILL HE EVER GET JUSTICE?
October 5, 2015
SEPTEMBER 19, 2016
A year after our campaign is launched, the Mail reveals bureaucratic delays to Sgt Blackman's fight for justice.
At the same time, British troops are being hounded by ambulance-chasing lawyers over other incidents in the line of duty.
SHOW OF SUPPORT
OCTOBER 28, 2016
More than 2,000 ex-Marines and members of the public flood Parliament Square to demand justice. They hear speeches and messages from the former director of Special Forces Major General John Holmes and Marines Falklands commander Major General Julian Thompson.
NEW HOPE
DECEMBER 6, 2016
The CCRC grants a fresh appeal, saying there is a 'real possibility' his conviction will be overturned.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4039870/Hundreds-supporters-Marine-flock-court-learn-today-freed-Christmas-ahead-appeal-against-conviction-murdering-Taliban-fighter.html#ixzz4SzrXhYBg
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