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In Brief
- Ben Roberts-Smith is facing charges for the alleged murders of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
- He remains in custody and is due to face court in June.
A relative of two Afghan men, who were reportedly killed by Ben Roberts-Smith or on his command, has expressed relief that the former soldier will be held accountable for their deaths.
Mohammed Essa and his son Ahmadullah lost their lives during a 2009 raid conducted by Australian special forces at a compound known as Whiskey 108, located in Uruzgan Province.
This week, Roberts-Smith was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder. He is accused of fatally shooting Ahmadullah, who had a prosthetic leg, in the back. Additionally, Mohammed Essa was allegedly executed under the orders of Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Although Roberts-Smith, 47, has not yet entered pleas in response to these charges, he has consistently and vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Subsequent photographs surfaced showing Roberts-Smith and other soldiers using Ahmadullah’s prosthetic leg as a drinking vessel, treating it as a trophy.
Speaking to SBS News from Afghanistan, Esmatullah — the brother and son of the alleged victims — said he was relieved Roberts-Smith had been charged.
“Of course I’m happy,” he said via a translator.
“It’s a relief he’s been caught.”
Esmatullah, who was 10 at the time of his father’s and brother’s deaths, said he wished he could face Roberts-Smith in person but knew it was “not possible”.
“As it stands, we cannot reach him to face him directly,” he said.
“When someone is caught, they should be brought face-to-face so the truth comes out and we can distinguish the guilty from the innocent.”
Esmatullah said the investigation and subsequent charges had “dragged on too long”.
“I only ask that he be properly investigated and that the questioning and investigation process be carried out as soon as possible,” he said.
Roberts-Smith, who is Australia’s most decorated living soldier, was arrested and charged on Tuesday before his case was briefly mentioned at the Downing Centre Local Court the following day.
He did not apply for bail and the case was re-listed for 4 June, meaning he will remain in custody for at least two months.
Roberts-Smith is facing charges for the alleged murders of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
It’s alleged three victims were shot by subordinate members of the Australian Defence Force, in the presence of, and acting on the orders of Roberts-Smith.
Roberts-Smith is the second Australian soldier to be charged with a war crime, with the possibility that others will also face charges.
This story was produced in collaboration with SBS Dari.
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