Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who has been accused of war crimes, has publicly denied all allegations during a statement made on the Gold Coast. The 47-year-old, who received the Victoria Cross, is facing charges related to the murder or ordering the killings of five unarmed detainees during his service in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
In his brief address, Roberts-Smith vehemently rejected the claims against him, stating, “For the past 10 years, my family and I have been subject to a campaign to convince Australians that I’ve acted improperly in my service in Afghanistan.” He reiterated his innocence, declaring, “I categorically deny all of these allegations,” and expressed a desire to clear his name, despite the challenges ahead.
Roberts-Smith stated, “I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan,” underscoring his commitment to defending his reputation. He concluded his address with a resolve to confront the situation, stating that he has “never run from a fight in my life.”
Recently, Roberts-Smith was granted bail by Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court and was released from Silverwater Correctional Centre, after which he returned to Queensland. He has been vocal about his innocence throughout the legal proceedings against him.
The allegations emerged in 2018 through Fairfax Media, now owned by Nine, which led Roberts-Smith to file a defamation suit in the Federal Court. However, he lost the case, with a judge finding that the allegations of murder were, on balance, true. He has since attempted, without success, to overturn the findings in the full Federal Court and the High Court.
The situation has cast a long shadow over the former soldier’s legacy and continues to attract significant public interest as he prepares to defend himself against these serious charges.