Five UK Royal Marines charged with murder

Five Royal Marines have been charged with murder in connection with an incident in Afghanistan in 2011, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed.

Two marines were detained by Royal Military Police (RMP) over the weekend, bringing the total number of arrests to nine.

Four of those held have been released without charge.

An MoD spokesperson said those charged with murder "remain in custody pending court proceedings".

It is believed to be the first time UK servicemen have been arrested and charged with such charges during the Afghanistan conflict.

The charges are related to an incident in Afghanistan last year, when Royal Marine 3 Commando Brigade was based in Helmand.

The MoD previously said the incident followed an "engagement with an insurgent" and no civilians were involved.

Read full report at The BBC

Bloody stinks!! I feel sorry for my former colleagues for having to investigate this, if it had been the other way round, nothing would be done. The guy was a bloody insurgent FFS!!!

Originally Posted by The Highway Man

Bloody stinks!! I feel sorry for my former colleagues for having to investigate this, if it had been the other way round, nothing would be done. The guy was a bloody insurgent FFS!!!

yepper, agree..... when in the trench, the law of the trench is what it is... get the one who ratted them out.

I believe a video recording was made by one of the patrol and put on youtube, how much is true I'm not sure, I don't have any contacts left in the RMP as everyone I served with has retired now, that's getting old for you.

Originally Posted by The Highway Man

I believe a video recording was made by one of the patrol and put on youtube, how much is true I'm not sure, I don't have any contacts left in the RMP as everyone I served with has retired now, that's getting old for you.

that there is just plain stupid then.......... maybe they deserve what comes.

Probably best not to speculate too much

Originally Posted by m551sheridan

yepper, agree..... when in the trench, the law of the trench is what it is... get the one who ratted them out.

With the greatest of respect and no offence intended, you can't just go around shooting everything and anyone as per the US military on occasions.

The rules of engagement (RoE) are quite clear. It doesn't mean they are necessarily correct and that you agree with them, but you must adhere to them regardless.

/RM Officer mode

Originally Posted by The Highway Man

I believe a video recording was made by one of the patrol and put on youtube, how much is true I'm not sure, I don't have any contacts left in the RMP as everyone I served with has retired now, that's getting old for you.

It appears that the laptop belonging to a RM was "seized" by civi police who were "investigating an unrelated incident....". Some footage was discovered and the RMP were then involved. The footage in question was recorded via head cam/helmet cam. I believe the footage shows an injured insurgent on the floor and the RM's discussing how to deal with him, before the footage ends and the insurgent subsequently dies.

This is just my opinion, but if you've done something "silly" then storing the evidence of it isn't particularly clever.

But thats RoE for you. In the heat of battle they can be interpreted differently. I hope the RM's aren't hung out to dry by "upstairs"....

Originally Posted by Capt Frogman

With the greatest of respect and no offence intended, you can't just go around shooting everything and anyone as per the US military on occasions.

The rules of engagement (RoE) are quite clear. It doesn't mean they are necessarily correct and that you agree with them, but you must adhere to them regardless.

/RM Officer mode

I know, and you are 10,000% correct but, as we visited this topic before, when you've just been lit up, have one of the guys who did it and you want to know where his buddies ran of to, to be smug with a *FU*, give me a cigarette and a can of *chicken and noodles* just might get you what you did not suspect. As you well know, it happens at times, especially when you know what they will do to your buddies........ you become like your enemy sometimes.

But thats RoE for you. In the heat of battle they can be interpreted differently. I hope the RM's aren't hung out to dry by "upstairs"....

My info was in the right area although not 100% corrrct. That's usually enough for HMF to try and stitch someone up.

Originally Posted by m551sheridan

I know, and you are 10,000% correct but, as we visited this topic before, when you've just been lit up, have one of the guys who did it and you want to know where his buddies ran of to, to be smug with a *FU*, give me a cigarette and a can of *chicken and noodles* just might get you what you did not suspect. As you well know, it happens at times, especially when you know what they will do to your buddies........ you become like your enemy sometimes.

Agreed.

That's war for you. Hence why such arrests and charges are an emotive subject.

Originally Posted by The Highway Man

My info was in the right area although not 100% corrrct. That's usually enough for HMF to try and stitch someone up.

It's certainly not the first time, and definitely won't be the last.