By Ian Drury PUBLISHED: 14:09 EST, 17 November 2013 | UPDATED: 14:14 EST, 17 November 2013 Support: Major General Ed Davis said the Armed Forces still has a 'duty of care' towards Marine A and his family Britain's top commando has vowed to stand by the sergeant convicted of executing a severely-wounded Taliban prisoner, declaring: 'Once a marine, always a marine.' Major General Ed Davis risked a clash with military top brass by issuing the message of support on the day the 39-year-old - identified only as Marine A - was found guilty of murder. His comments to the 8,300-strong Royal Marines are at odds with those from General Sir Nick Houghton, the head of the Armed Forces, who said there should be 'no leniency' for Marine A because of his 'heinous crime'.
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Major General Ed Davis gave his support the day Marine A was convicted
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Risked a clash with the head of Armed Forces who wants 'no leniency'
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Convicted soldier shot a Taliban insurgent in 2011 during a 'tour from hell'
A @placeholder officer said: 'If Marine A's family are evicted from their home and forced on to benefits, it will make them victims and cause an outcry.'