cheers outside court as sergeant alexander blackman is given a seven—year prison sentence — but told he will be freed in two weeks. the 42—year—old was jailed for murder in 2013, but his conviction was reduced to manslaughter earlier this month. his wife is overjoyed. this is the moment we have all been fighting hard for. it's hard to believe that this day is finally here. we'll have the latest from court. also this lunchtime... a shake—up of prescriptions — holiday jabs, gluten—free food and fish oils may no longer be available on the nhs to save money. a rape victim says she agrees with thejudge in her case who was criticised for warning that drunk women put themselves in danger. tesco‘s fined £129 million after a two—year investigation into false accounting by the serious fraud office. and look out for the new 12—sided pound coin — it's thinner and lighter and it's out today. and coming up in the sport on bbc news... a big loss for great britain's davis cup team. they are going to be without the injured andy murray for their quarterfinal tie against france. good

rob driscoll served alongside alexander blackman. he says the decision to release him now is the right one, given what they all went through. the answer to your question is, was it right, for me, what he did? and my answer would be absolutely. when you're surrounded by absolute lunacy, then a little bit of lunacy, kind of, doesn't seem so bad. this was a unique case, where the pressure of conflict drove one man beyond his mental limits. one recognised by his wife, claire. but the message from the judges was clear. killing in war always remains covered by the rules of war. our top story this evening: scotland's parliament votes in favour of asking to hold a second independence referendum but westminster says no for now. and still to come: the woman at the centre of a controversial rape case responds to the judge's warning about women who get drunk on nights out. coming up in sportsday on bbc news, after a meeting today the ecb are pushing ahead with plans for a new twenty20 tournament which is set to start in 2020, involving eight new

and, moments later, their euphoria was shared in the reaction of alexander blackman's wife. we are overjoyed at the judge's decision to significantly reduce our sentence such that he can be released imminently. this is the moment we've all been fighting hard for. it's hard to believe that this day is finally here. as a marine sergeant, alexander blackman had been a decisive, accomplished leader of troops, someone who'd killed 30 times for his country. but on this tour of afghanistan, in 2011, he and his men went through what was called a tour from hell. they were provoked and violently targeted incessantly by the taliban. in this field, they found an injured taliban insurgent, sergeant blackman was recorded saying this. anybody want to do first aid on this idiot? no. he then pointed his gun at the insurgent. shot fire. he then added. shuffle off this mortal coil. in 2013, sergeant blackman was found guilty of murder, a decision that angered thousands of military colleagues. but earlier this month that conviction was reduced to manslaughter because new evidence showed the men

and alexander blackman is free. alexander blackman is free. alexander blackman is free. alexander blackman was an accomplished, decisive leader of troops, someone who had killed 20 #30 times for his country —— killed 30 times for his country. on this tourin 30 times for his country. on this tour in afghanistan in 2011, he and his friends went through what was called a tour from hell. they were provoked and targeted inassociatantly by the taliban. in this field they found an injured taliban insurgent. he said this: he then pointed his gun at the insurgent. he then added: in 2013, sergeant blackman was found guilty of murder, a decision that thousands of murder, a decision that thousands of military colleagues believed was a moral outrage. earlier this month that conviction was reduced to manslaughter, on grounds of diminished responsibility. rob driscoll serve add longside alexander blackman. he says the decision to release him now is the right one, given what they all went through. was it right for me what he did? and my answer would be absolutely. when you're surrou

now, this campaign has been led by claire blackman, alexander blackman ‘s wife but also many other people in many different walks of life, one of them is richard dchl rax mp who is with me now. your response to the sentence today? i'm absolutely delighted that after three years justice has finally been served and that —— richard drax, and that a good, decent, courageous man can go back to his wife, where he belongs. why have you been involved in this campaign from the start? why did you feel it was important that you and others fought for this case? well, asa others fought for this case? well, as a comrade in arranges because i was a soldier once, ijust thought this whole thing, three—and—a—half yea rs this whole thing, three—and—a—half years ago seemed strange to me, the case of murder, sentencing him to so many years in jail. case of murder, sentencing him to so many years injail. i went to case of murder, sentencing him to so many years in jail. i went to see him,| many years in jail. i went to see him, i listened to his story, as i drove home i rang his wife and i said

reaction of alexander blackman's wife. we are overjoyed at thejudge posner decision to significantly reduce our sentence such that he can be released imminently. this is the moment that we have all been fighting hard for. it is hard to believe that that day is finally here. that joy was matched by hundreds of marines who campaigned for four years to make this da reality. i'm overwhelmed. i am reduced to tears if i'm honest. i'm supposed to be a hard man and back head of stuff, but it hasjust broken me. i'm so relieved that authors have been done and alexander lachlan is free. —— alexander blackman. he had killed 30 times for his country. on this tour of gangster in 2011, he and his men went through what was called it from hell. —— tour of afghanistan. they we re hell. —— tour of afghanistan. they were targeted incessantly by the taliban in this field, it found and entered power inserted. alexander blackman was recorded saying this... he then pointed his gun at the insurgent and added... in 2013, sergeant blackm

alexander blackman has been given a reduced sentence of seven years for manslaughter. our correspondent, duncan kennedy, reports. cheering it was the news fellow marines had been waiting four years to hear. and, moments later, their euphoria was shared in the reaction of alexander blackman's wife. we are overjoyed at the judge's decision to significantly reduce our sentence such that he can be released imminently. this is the moment we've all been fighting hard for. as a marine sergeant, alexander blackman had been a decisive, accomplished leader of troops, someone who'd killed 30 times for his country. but on this tour of afghanistan, in 2011, he and his men went through what was called a tour from hell. they were provoked and violently targeted incessantly by the taliban. in this field, they found an injured taliban insurgent, sergeant blackman was recorded saying this. anybody want to do first aid on this idiot? no. he then pointed his gun at the insurgent. shot fire. he then added. shuffle off this mortal coil. in 2013, sergeant blackman was found guilty of murder,

and, moments later, their euphoria was shared in the reaction of alexander blackman's wife. we are overjoyed at the judge's decision to significantly reduce our sentence, such that he can be released imminently. this is the moment we've all been fighting hard for. it's hard to believe that this day is finally here. as a marine sergeant, alexander blackman had been a decisive, accomplished leader of troops, someone who'd killed 30 times for his country. but on this tour of afghanistan, in 2011, he and his men went through what was called a tour from hell. they were provoked and violently targeted incessantly by the taliban. in this field, they found an injured taliban insurgent, sergeant blackman was recorded saying this: anybody want to do first aid on this idiot? he then pointed his gun at the insurgent. shot fire. he then added. in 2013, sergeant blackman was found guilty of murder, a decision that angered thousands of military colleagues. but earlier this month, that conviction was reduced to manslaughter because new evidence showed the mental strains on him had badly imp

rob driscoll served alongside alexander blackman. he says the decision to release him now is the right one, given what they all went through. the answer to your question is, was it right, for me, what he did? and my answer would be absolutely. when you're surrounded by absolute lunacy, then a little bit of lunacy, kind of, doesn't seem so bad. prosecutors argued that alexander blackman broke the rules of war. but his supporters saw a man tormented by the horrors of combat. for his wife and for him, he is the last casualty of the afghanistan conflict. let's speak to the author frederick forsyth, who campaigned for the release of sergeant alexander blackman. hejoins me from his home in buckinghamshire. thank you very much for your time this afternoon. you were in court this afternoon. you were in court this morning, so after such a long campaign, perhaps you canjust begin by summarising for our viewers just the atmosphere in court and what emotions went through you when you heard this decision. well, i think the emotion going through m

rob driscoll served alongside alexander blackman. he says the decision to release him now is the right one, given what they all went through. the answer to your question is, was it right, for me, what he did? and my answer would be absolutely. when you're surrounded by absolute lunacy, then a little bit of lunacy, kind of, doesn't seem so bad. prosecutors argued that alexander blackman broke the rules of war. but his supporters saw a man tormented by the horrors of combat. for his wife and for him, he is the last casualty of the afghanistan conflict. if you are just if you arejustjoining us here on bbc news, the scottish parliament have formally requested a second referendum on independence which will now be the prep requested to westminster. the secretary of state, david mandel, has said the answer is no. work least known for quite a long time. know it is know for now, and as period after that so a significant period for westminster. it presents a significant challenge to nicola sturgeon. after the vote, she's been giving her respon

three cheers for alexander blackman, hip—hip. .. hurray! a royal marine who was convicted of shooting dead a wounded taliban fighter in afghanistan, will be freed within weeks. his sentence has been reduced from murder to manslaughter due to diminished responsibility. the nhs is planning to take certain treatments off prescription lists. from cod liver oil to gluten—free bread, nhs managers say the move will save money. heavy rains and winds of up 160 miles per hour have battered australia's north east coast. tens of thousands of people have been told to evacuate. the government is to consult on whether channel 4 should move out of london after plans to privatise the publicly owned broadcaster were shelved. channel 4 says are forced to move could be damaging. more on the news that the scottish parliament has voted in favour of asking the uk government for the right to hold a second referendum on independence. the motion was passed by 69 votes to 59. but the request has already been swiftly rejected by downing street. let's hear now from s

breaking news in the case of sergeant alexander blackman. we can go to our reporter at the royal courts of justice. go to our reporter at the royal courts ofjustice. we have just had the sentencing for alexander blackman, and the five judges have decided that he is to serve seven yea rs decided that he is to serve seven years for manslaughter and he has already spent almost three and a half years in prison. it is possible he could be released within weeks because he has served half of the sentence and you can be released after that. to go back to the legal history of this case, he was first convicted by a court martial of murder in november 2013, for shooting an injured taliban insurgent in helmand province in afghanistan. he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of ten years, and he appealed the following year and that appeal did not succeed but his minimum term was reduced to eight years and the case was considered by the review commission, the independent body which looks at potential miscarriages ofjustice. it was referr

three cheers for alexander blackman! a royal marine cleared of killing a wounded taliban soldier has had a sentence reduced. nhs managers said the move will save money. a new 12 sided pound coin is 110w money. a new 12 sided pound coin is now in circulation. ina in a moment, it will be time for sports day but first what is coming up sports day but first what is coming up on bbc news. president trump aims to undo obama wasn't back row health reforms. thousands evacuated as cyclone debbie pummels the coastline. will have the latest australia. and why some remedies and gluten—free food might not be available on nhs england. but all ahead on bbc news. now, as we've been hearing. the scottish pairing has asked to hold a second referendum. it passed by 69—59 votes but the request is ordering ten downed by westminster. here is nicola sturgeon. i welcome the parliament's vote, the scottish government now has a mandate from to seek discussion with the new k government. we will seek sensible and constructive discussion. we wil

audrey says, "i wish clare and alexander blackman happiness going forward." as many as half of all babies in england have slept in the same bed as their parents by the time they are six months old. but this programme has been told that many parents who co—sleep are so fearful about being judged they are not telling health visitors about it. experts say they're concerned that guidance on how to minimise the risks is not being passed on. our reporter amber haque bought you herfull report an hour ago. here's a short extract. it's your baby. she's part of you. she's been part of you for the past nine months. so to have her close is just the most—natural thing in the world. dawn barclay and her partner andy had their second child fern in 2014. can you take me back to the night when it happened? fern had slept quite well that night in her moses basket, until about 5am. she woke up and had a feed. we both had fallen back asleep, but we were lying on the couch. when i woke up, i had obviously discovered that she was not breathing. so i remember lifting her up and

alexander blackman was jailed for murder in 2013, but his conviction was reduced to manslaughter earlier this month. his wife is overjoyed. this is the moment we have all been fighting hard for. it's hard to believe that this day is finally here. a shake up of prescriptions, holiday jabs, gluten free food and fish oils may no longer be available on the nhs to save money.

‘ about the story about the marine, alexander blackman, whose murder story about the marine, alexander blaw been , whose murder story about the marine, alexander blaw been overturned. 'der there. are. there - are. now, there-are. now, on there. are. now, on bbc- it is time for for the last year now — them on the march. also tonightrtbeenationallnsuransel into the box. the chancellor has back tracked in a less shambolic way? is it just the fashion or something more going on? why? ever to be a practical decision, it's got to be, hello. th}: butch? 9.4.2.1;ng 23st - not good for the populist anti—eu anti immigrant geert wilders. he's up a little on last time, but well below his hopes. if you believe the exit polls. ., w 7, — wipe out, losing three quarters of its seats. some of those, incidentally, to the green left. they are down. gut. the, centre fight: ééftj f??? a new coalition government. let's talk to gabriel gatehouse — -..-.-.. l.l.=.—.l.l l.l.l.ll. l.l..l.l. l.'l l.l.l..l.lll — an the. qutch campaign ' f " .-. '

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the male features a story about marine alexander story about:marine:alexand2r:: :: : his murder has blackman his murder convistionhés! overturned. blackman his murder convistionhss! overturned. only to been overturned. only one placeio and been overturned. only one glaceio and it is what a couple of the start and it is what a couple of the papers called the humiliation of philip hammond. that is the headline the telegraph and in the telegraph and the independent. 1:227 see 7 7 in the telegraph and the independent. 1:227 see it, 7 independent. is that how you see it, humiliation? - embarrassing humiliation? certainly embwa sadly climb—down within climb-down. sadly climb-downwithin‘ whether he was ordered by the prime minister or. here, the prime minister or not, here, we are, i have a government with the are, we have a government'withthei challenge the second world are, we have a government'withthei ci is enge the second world are, we have a government'withthei ci is the e the second world are, we have a government'withthei ci is the handle econd world are, we have a government'withthei