Australian ex-soldier Roberts-Smith granted bail in Afghan war crimes case
Al Jazeera • • general
Key Points:
- Former Australian special forces soldier Ben Roberts-Smith was granted bail after spending 10 days in prison over allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan, with a judge noting the trial could take years.
- Roberts-Smith, awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, faces charges of murdering five people between 2009 and 2012, which he denies, while police allege the victims were non-combatants killed under his orders or presence.
- The prosecution emphasized the severity of the alleged crimes to justify strict bail conditions, and Roberts-Smith faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted.
- Once celebrated as a war hero and "father of the year," Roberts-Smith's reputation was tarnished in 2018 following reports linking him to the murder of unarmed Afghan prisoners and other alleged atrocities.
- Previous civil trials found many journalistic claims against Roberts-Smith to be "substantially true," though these carry a lower burden of proof than the current criminal case.
