SAS veteran Ben Roberts-Smith might face life in jail if discovered responsible of murdering unarmed Afghan civilians
One in all Australia’s most-decorated troopers has been arrested on warfare crimes fees associated to the alleged murders of a number of unarmed Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012.
Former particular forces (SAS) soldier and Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith has been charged with 5 counts of warfare crimes and refused bail. He’s anticipated to look in court docket on Wednesday.
At a press convention on Tuesday, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Commissioner Krissy Barrett mentioned that the SAS veteran is suspected of personally executing two captured Afghan civilians and ordering his subordinates to shoot three others, together with in a so-called ‘blooding’ ritual involving a rookie soldier.
Roberts-Smith allegedly kicked an Afghan man off a cliff and ordered his execution on one event, and supposedly murdered one other prisoner with a leg prosthesis in a separate episode.
Based on Barrett, “it will likely be alleged the victims weren’t collaborating in hostilities,” and “have been detained, unarmed, and… beneath the management of [Australian Defence Force] members after they have been killed.”
If discovered responsible, Roberts-Smith might obtain life in jail.
His arrest was preceded by a five-year investigation, throughout which the authorities tapped telephones in Australia and offshore and secured incriminating testimonies from different SAS veterans, in keeping with Australian media.
In 2023, Roberts-Smith misplaced a defamation case in opposition to journalists who had reported that he murdered civilians throughout his deployment in Afghanistan. The ruling was upheld by Australia’s Federal Courtroom in Might final yr.
Roberts-Smith has constantly denied the allegations.
In 2023, one other Australian soldier was charged with homicide whereas deployed in Afghanistan. The trial is anticipated to start subsequent February.
