Australia’s most adorned soldier, charged with warfare crimes associated to Afghanistan deployments greater than a decade in the past, on Sunday publicly denied the allegations towards him and mentioned he was happy with his service.
Ben Roberts-Smith, 47, freed this week on bail, is charged with 5 counts of warfare crimes over the alleged homicide of 5 unarmed Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012.
Every cost carries a most jail time period of life.
The previous Particular Air Service (SAS) corporal has constantly denied the accusations of wrongdoing, many first reported by 9 Leisure newspapers in a sequence of articles beginning in 2018.
Talking to the media on Queensland’s Gold Coast, Roberts-Smith mentioned he at all times acted throughout the guidelines of engagement in Afghanistan.
“I categorically deny all of those allegations, and whereas I’d have most well-liked these expenses not be introduced, I will probably be taking this chance to lastly clear my identify,” he mentioned. “I’m happy with my service in Afghanistan.”
After greater than per week in custody, Roberts-Smith was granted bail after a choose mentioned his matter would probably take years to get to court docket.
Prosecutors had opposed bail on fears Roberts-Smith may attempt to contact witnesses.
Police have mentioned they are going to allege Roberts-Smith’s victims weren’t participating in hostilities on the time of their deaths and have been detained, unarmed and underneath the management of Australian forces when killed.
In 2023, Roberts-Smith misplaced a defamation go well with over the media accusations and was discovered on the stability of possibilities to have been concerned within the homicide of 4 Afghan civilians.
