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Australia's most-decorated soldier vows to fight war crime charges
Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, denies all allegations after being charged with five counts of murder. He was arrested in Sydney on April 7, 2026, and released on bail on April 17, 2026, while pledging to clear his name. The charges follow a 2023 civil defamation case and precede earlier 2018 allegations published by Nine newspapers.
Why It Matters
The case tests accountability for elite Australian forces amid war-crimes accusations and highlights how civil defamation proceedings intersect with criminal charges.
Timeline
6 Events
Public denial in first statement after charges
April 19, 2026
In his first public statement after being charged, Roberts-Smith denied all allegations, said he was 'proud of my service in Afghanistan' and would use the charges to 'finally' clear his name, adding that the journey would be difficult and that he had 'never run from a fight in my life.'
Bail granted and release from jail
April 17, 2026
A judge granted Roberts-Smith bail, describing the case as exceptional and noting he was likely to spend years in custody before trial; he was released from jail on Friday.
Arrest at Sydney airport
April 7, 2026
Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney airport on 7 April as part of the investigation into potential war crimes involving five murder counts.
Charges laid for five counts of murder
April 2026
He was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder: one murder, one jointly commissioning a murder, and three counts of aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring a murder.
Civil defamation case against Nine newspapers
2023
In 2023, Roberts-Smith pursued a civil defamation case against Nine newspapers; a judge found there was substantial truth to some murder claims against him.
Allegations first published about Ben Roberts-Smith
2018
Nine newspapers first published allegations of misconduct by Roberts-Smith in 2018, initiating public scrutiny of his actions in Afghanistan.