Friday Mar 5th L/Cpl Joe Glenton attends a court martial in Colchester, having earlier pleaded guilty to going AWOL for 737 days. There is a demonstration outside the court, and others in Italy, Poland, USA and six other countries.
Friday Mar 5th Lawyer Nick Wrack says Joe went absent because of PTSD, and "a growing sense that the war was unjust". Judge Advocate Emma Peters sentences him to nine months, and demotion. She rejects his plea for discharge: "AWOL should not be seen as a means to a swift exit from the services".
Friday Mar 5th Joe's mother Sue says she is furious that pleas of mitigation for PTSD, with evidence from a consultant, were not listened to. "They have let Joe and his comrades down". Legal adviser John Tipple says "they are making him pay for having spoken out". Joe's legal team will appeal.
Sunday Mar 7th Barbara Ellis in the Observer criticises bloggers who call Joe "lucky", because he has not been shot. "Is this the best we can do when our soldiers fall to pieces and run away - not shoot them any more?" She wonders "would a pro-war Glenton have received a more sympathetic hearing?"
