Marine A: Alexander Blackman who shot dead Taliban fighter freed from prison

‘Marine A’ who was jailed for shooting dead an injured Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has been freed from prison.

Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was convicted of murder but his sentence was quashed by the Court Martial Appeal Court.

The commando, who spent more than three years in jail for killing the insurgent in 2011, was freed from Erlestoke Prison on Friday.

Mr Blackman hid from cameras as he was driven way from the prison near Devizes, Wiltshire, in the back of an Audi estate.

Following his appeal, his conviction last month was replaced with diminished responsibility.

Five judges ruled that he was suffering from an "abnormality of mental functioning" at the time of the incident, when he was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.

His sentence was reduced to seven years, meaning he would be freed within weeks - a decision his wife Claire Blackman described as "the moment that we have all been fighting hard for".

Speaking to the Daily Mail while awaiting her husband's release, she said: "I haven't slept all week. I feel like a child waiting for Christmas.

"We have had so many setbacks over the years that I almost cannot believe it is really going to happen this time.

"I can't wait to see him and spend some quality time together."

Mr Blackman was convicted of murder at Bulford Court Martial in 2013 and jailed for life, with a minimum term of 10 years.

This sentence was later reduced to eight years.

His wife Claire led a campaign for him to be released, which was taken up by the Daily Mail.

During the original trial in 2013, he was known only as Marine A.

His identity was made public after his conviction.