A FORMER Royal Marine jailed for life for murdering a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan has lost his appeal against his conviction.

But the appeal judges have reduced the minimum time Al Blackman, from Taunton, must spend behind bars from ten years to eight.

Blackman - who was referred to as Marine A throughout his trial - had appealed after being found guilty of murder at a court martial in November.

Thousands of supporters signed a petition hailing him a hero and demanding his release following his conviction.

He shot the seriously injured Afghan fighter in the chest with a 9mm pistol in Helmand Province in 2011.

The incident was captured on the head camera of a colleague.

Blackman, who was a sergeant with 42 Commando before his dismissal "with disgrace", was heard to say on the video: "Obviously this doesn't go anywhere fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convetion."