I keep seeing people alluding to the - very real! - difficulties involved in making split second moral decisions on the battlefield.

It’s easy to become an armchair warrior, and criticise those risking their lives in the service of their country. Sometimes the decisions made in those circumstances are morally questionable, where the line between right and wrong is hard to pick. Even in hindsight, with the luxury of perfect information, and time to consider, reasonable people can disagree on where the line lies. There is a very reasonable reluctance to criticise servicepeople for decisions made during combat.

But it’s important to remember that BRS isn’t being accused of crimes in relation to such acts. He’s being accused of the coldblooded murder of unarmed noncombatants, in circumstances well outside the heat of battle.