[REVISION HISTORY]

War crimes trial of Ben Roberts-Smith

Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-14 05:37 UTC → 2026-10-21 23:27 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Ben Roberts-Smith, a former Special Air Service Regiment corporal and Victoria Cross awardee, is facing five counts of the war crime of murder related to the execution of Afghan detainees. He denies all charges. In late September 2026, a judge granted Roberts-Smith permission to attend the National Commemorative Service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, marking the 25th anniversary of the Afghanistan War. His presence at the event, which honors Australian personnel who died or were wounded in the conflict, was noted as a potential point of contention. By In mid-October 2026, ~~preparations for his landmark trial continued, with~~ radio station 2GB ~~planning to broadcast~~ proceeded with a recorded interview ~~with~~ between host Ben Fordham and Roberts-Smith. The broadcast ~~is expected~~ was subject to ~~undergo~~ legal scrutiny to prevent prejudice to the upcoming trial proceedings. During the 150-minute interview, Roberts-Smith explicitly rejected claims that he murdered or ordered the murder of unarmed detainees, stating, “I didn’t bloody murder anyone,” and denying he saw anyone else shoot prisoners. He also addressed allegations regarding the treatment of a deceased Afghan man, denying he drank from the man’s prosthetic leg while noting that military dark humour is often misconstrued. Roberts-Smith, who is currently out on bail, is preparing for trial following a Federal Court defamation ruling in which a judge found him responsible for several killings, including the machine-gunning of an unarmed prisoner. The media appearance coincided with a broader publicity campaign, including the launch of a new clothing line.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.