Australia's most-decorated soldier vows to 'fight' war crime charges

Ben Roberts-Smith has given his first statement since he was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder last week. Australia's most-decorated soldier vows to 'fight' war crime charges Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. A front-on shot of Roberts-Smith looking pensively away from camera while wearing a suit and tie with strong background bokeh, as he walks along a street while arriving at the Federal Court in Sydney in May 2025. Australia's most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has publicly denied all allegations against him in his first statement after being charged with five counts of the war crime of murder last week. Australia's most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has publicly denied all allegations against him in his first statement after being charged with five counts of the war crime of murder last week. The Victoria Cross recipient, released on bail on Friday, said he was "proud of my service in Afghanistan", and would use the charges against him as an opportunity to "finally" clear his name. He said: "I understand this journey will be difficult. But I can promise everybody that I have never run from a fight in my life." Roberts-Smith, 47, is accused of being involved in the deaths of unarmed Afghan detainees, either by killing them or ordering a subordinate to, between 2009 and 2012. A former corporal in Australia's Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment, Roberts-Smith told the media that "while I would have preferred these charges not to be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name". He went on: "I'm proud of my service in Afghanistan. While I was there, I always acted within my values, within my training and within the rules of engagement." He described his arrest as a "sensational" and "unnecessary spectacle", and refused to take any questions from journalists. Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April, and was released from jail on bail on Friday. Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April, and was The presiding judge noted that his case was "exceptional" and he was likely to spend "possibly years and years" in custody before it went to trial, if not granted bail. A court sketch of a man with short brown hair and a green jumper in a small room. What is the decorated Australian soldier accused of? The criminal case against Roberts-Smith follows a 2023 civil defamation case, in which a judge found – on the balance of probabilities – there was "substantial truth" to some of the murder claims against him. Brought by Roberts-Smith against Nine newspapers, which first published allegations of misconduct in 2018, the high-profile trial was the first time in history any court has examined claims of war crimes by Australian forces. The former soldier argued the alleged killings occurred legally during combat or did not happen at all, and last year lost an appeal against the Federal Court finding. He now faces one charge of the war crime of murder, one of jointly commissioning a murder, and three of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a murder. Fresh court documents reveal details of the five murder charges against the Victoria Cross recipient. Lawyers argued that Ben Roberts-Smith wouldn't be able to defend himself properly from prison. Ben Roberts-Smith's case is not only unprecedented for Australia but "extraordinary" for the globe too, scholars say. The Sussexes' four-day tour of Australia appears to have fallen flat with some. A man is arrested following a collision in which police say a car mounted a kerb and struck pedestrians. On the fourth day of their Australian visit, the royal couple pay tribute to the 15 people killed in the Bondi shooting. Aziz Ahmadzai had been working as a security guard at Weymouth Railway Station when he collapsed. A 13-hour blaze at one of Australia's two oil refineries could impact petrol prices and supply.