The family of 'Marine A' Alexander Blackman face another agonising wait to hear if he will be home for Christmas after a judge delayed a bail decision today.

Blackman's wife Claire and hundreds of supporters swamped the Royal Courts of Justice in the hope a judge orders his freedom.

But the Lord Chief Justice has delayed the decision until Wednesday - just four days before Christmas Day.

Sgt Blackman has spent three years in HMP Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, for the shooting of a wounded Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2011.

Mrs Blackman left to cheers and applause from the many servicemen who attended, shouting 'justice' and 'see you on Wednesday' as she departed.

Disappointment: Claire Blackman (centre) arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, where her husband, Sergeant Alexander Blackman, who was found guilty of murder, was told he would have to wait to be freed

Court battle: Jailed Royal Marine Sergeant Alexander Blackman has won the right to a fresh appeal - today his wife Claire, pictured today outside court, is yet to learn if he'll be with his family for Christmas

Supporters hold the Royal Marine flag with a picture of former Marine Sgt Alexander Blackman outside the Royal Courts of Justice

Lord Thomas announced: 'There is before the court an application for bail and for directions.

'The court has postponed until further order the reporting of what has transpired at the hearing today in the interests of justice. What is said in this judgment may be reported.'

In the short ruling, he said: 'The issues referred by the CCRC all in essence appear to turn on the mental state of the appellant at various material times including, in particular, at the time of the shooting.

'The Crown only received the full reference from the Criminal Cases Review Commission, as did the court, yesterday afternoon or evening.'

He said 'in the circumstances', David Perry QC, for the Crown, 'has helpfully indicated to the court that he will be in a position by next week to make clear the stance that the Crown is going to take about the evidence in relation to the appellant's mental state'.

Lord Thomas added: 'As that decision is central to the way in which the appeal will be heard and the timescale within which it can be heard, including the probability of hearing it within weeks, the court considers that the interests of justice are best served by adjourning this application until next week.

'When the court receives the Crown's indication of its stance it will then determine the issue of bail and give further directions.'

Former servicemen and members of the public have vowed 'to show Al he is not alone' at his crucial bail application.

But his wife Claire, his team of lawyers funded by Daily Mail readers, and dozens of supporters are packed the Lord Chief Justice's historic Court 4.

She has said she was 'trying hard not to get excited' about his possible release.

'We think we've got a really strong application for bail and we're hopeful, of course - it would be amazing, it would be fantastic, but one step at a time,' she said.

Sgt Blackman has spent three years in HMP Erlestoke, in Wiltshire, for the shooting of a wounded Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2011. His wife Claire has said she was 'trying hard not to get excited' about his possible release

Former Royal Marine Commandos show their support by walking from Parliament Square to Downing Street in October 2015 - they returned in force to court later today

Wedding day: Sgt Alexander Blackman with his wife Claire when they married - the family's hoped they'll be reunited today have been dashed

Blackman was convicted in November 2013 by a court martial in Bulford, Wiltshire, and sentenced to life with a minimum term of 10 years.

In May 2014, the Court Martial Appeal Court rejected his conviction challenge, but reduced the minimum term - the least he must serve before becoming eligible to apply for parole - to eight years because of the combat stress disorder he was suffering from at the time of the incident.

His wife Claire, his team of lawyers funded by Daily Mail readers, packed the Lord Chief Justice's historic Court 4

The killing happened in Helmand province in 2011 while Blackman was serving with Plymouth-based 42 Commando.

He shot the insurgent, who had been seriously injured in an attack by an Apache helicopter, in the chest at close range with a 9mm pistol before quoting a phrase from Shakespeare as the man convulsed and died in front of him.

Blackman told him: 'There you are. Shuffle off this mortal coil, you c***. It's nothing you wouldn't do to us.'

He then turned to comrades and said: 'Obviously this doesn't go anywhere, fellas. I just broke the Geneva Convention.'

The shooting was captured on a camera mounted on the helmet of another Royal Marine. Two junior colleagues were cleared of murder.

During his trial, Blackman - who was known at that stage as Marine A - said he believed the victim was already dead and he was taking out his anger on a corpse.

As well as the life sentence, Blackman - who denied murder - was 'dismissed with disgrace' from the Royal Marines after he had served with distinction for 15 years, including tours of Iraq, Afghanistan and Northern Ireland.

Blackman applied to the CCRC in December 2015 for a review. The commission said that following an 'in-depth', 11-month investigation it had decided to refer the case.

The commission said it had concluded that a number of new issues 'raise a real possibility' that the Court Martial Appeal Court 'will now quash Mr Blackman's murder conviction'.

His lawyers believe he has a good chance of being granted release on bail pending the new appeal, which will not be heard until the summer or autumn.

Mr Goldberg QC will tell the court Sgt Blackman knows he owes it to his supporters not to abscond, if he was granted bail.

He said: 'Tens of thousands of ordinary people have contributed donations to the Justice for Sgt Blackman campaign organised by the Daily Mail which has paid the legal fees to prepare this fresh appeal.

'Thousands of former Royal Marines have peacefully held rallies and demonstrated in Parliament Square and Birmingham. He is a man of great integrity who acutely feels a duty and a debt of gratitude to them. He will follow due process meticulously.'

The Mail's long battle to win justice

Royal Marine Alexander Blackman was the first known British serviceman to be jailed for murder on a foreign battlefield.

SAM GREENHILL charts the case and the path to justice.

December 7, 2013

CASUALTY OF WAR

DECEMBER 7, 2013

The Daily Mail reports how Sergeant Alexander Blackman, previously named only as Marine A, was jailed for life after shooting a fatally injured Taliban fighter.

A SHAMEFUL INJUSTICE

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

The Mail uncovers vital evidence that was 'deliberately withheld'. One officer quit his commission in disgust at being blocked from testifying in support of Sgt Blackman.

FALL GUY FOR A FIASCO

SEPTEMBER 11, 2015

Sgt Blackman tells the Mail about the 'tour from hell' in Afghanistan. He says one mistake under extreme stress made him the fall guy.

September 11, 2015

COVER-UP PLOT EXPOSED

SEPTEMBER 12, 2015

The Ministry of Defence is accused of cover-ups, including trying to censor an internal report casting doubt on the Marine's conviction.

BOMBSHELL REPORT LEAKED

SEPTEMBER 17, 2015

The internal report is leaked to the Mail. It reveals Sgt Blackman was failed by senior officers and put under unimaginable pressure.

FAMILIES JOIN CAMPAIGN

SEPTEMBER 21, 2015

Families of Marines killed by the Taliban on Sgt Blackman's 'tour from hell' poignantly join the campaign to review his conviction.

FIGHTING FUND TOPS £750K

OCTOBER 5, 2015

In less than a month, generous Mail readers raise an incredible £750,000 – enough to fund a team of lawyers to pursue a new appeal.

September 17, 2015

DEFIANCE OF THE MARINES

OCTOBER 28, 2015

Royal Marines past and present rally in Parliament Square in support of their jailed comrade.

SHAMEFUL PLOT

DECEMBER 12, 2015

We expose a plot to keep Sgt Blackman behind bars. A leaked document reveals the determination of senior officers to block efforts to overturn his conviction.

APPEAL IS LAUNCHED

DECEMBER 16, 2015

Accompanied by 500 green beret-wearing supporters, Sgt Blackman's wife Claire delivers a seven-file dossier to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

WILL HE EVER GET JUSTICE?

October 5, 2015

SEPTEMBER 19, 2016

A year after our campaign is launched, the Mail reveals bureaucratic delays to Sgt Blackman's fight for justice.

At the same time, British troops are being hounded by ambulance-chasing lawyers over other incidents in the line of duty.

SHOW OF SUPPORT

OCTOBER 28, 2016

More than 2,000 ex-Marines and members of the public flood Parliament Square to demand justice. They hear speeches and messages from the former director of Special Forces Major General John Holmes and Marines Falklands commander Major General Julian Thompson.

NEW HOPE

DECEMBER 6, 2016