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Ben Roberts-Smith, a former member of the SAS and decorated with the Victoria Cross, has publicly refuted all charges against him, breaking his silence today.
The 47-year-old was apprehended on April 7, facing accusations of either committing or commanding the killings of five unarmed detainees during his service in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012.
Speaking from the Gold Coast, Roberts-Smith delivered a concise statement, firmly dismissing the claims.
“Over the past decade, my family and I have endured a relentless campaign aimed at persuading Australians that I conducted myself improperly while serving in Afghanistan,” he declared.
He continued, “I have consistently asserted my innocence and categorically deny each of these accusations.”
“And while I would have preferred these charges not be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name.
“I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan.”
He closed by saying he’d “never run from a fight in my life”.
Roberts-Smith successfully applied for bail at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court last Friday. He was released from Silverwater Correctional Centre before travelling back to Queensland.
He has consistently proclaimed his innocence.
War crime allegations against Roberts-Smith were first exposed by the now Nine-owned Fairfax Media in 2018.
The war veteran sued for defamation in the Federal Court but suffered a crushing defeat with a judge finding the accusations of murder were, on the balance of probabilities, true.
He failed to overturn these findings on appeal to the full Federal Court and the High Court.
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