A Royal Marine convicted of murdering an injured Afghan insurgent should be shown leniency when he is sentenced, a retired commander has said.
Maj Gen Julian Thompson, who led 3 Commando Brigade during the Falklands War, told The Times that a five-year term would be more appropriate than life.
The retired commander's comments came after 39-year-old sergeant, known as Marine A, was convicted by a military court of the "battlefield execution" of an insurgent in Helmand province in Afghanistan two years ago.
It was the first time that a British serviceman has been found guilty of a war crime during the 12-year conflict. Two other Marines were acquitted of murder.
The Marine is due to be sentenced on 6 December.
"The shooting of the Afghan insurgent in Helmand Province was wrong and everyone in the Royal Marines is clear about that. I am sad for the man who did it, in that he probably had a moment of stupidity, " Thompson told The Times .
"When an enemy surrenders on the battlefield it is a very, very dangerous time," he added.
Following the verdict on Friday, Brigadier Bill Dunham, of the Royal Marines, said the murder was "a truly shocking and appalling aberration".
