April 9, 2026
Australian ex-soldier charged with war crimes remains in jail
Former Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith will remain in jail after his lawyers did not seek bail following war crimes charges. The case, involving five war crime-murder counts linked to Afghanistan, was adjourned until June.
April 9, 2026
SYDNEY: One of Australia’s most-decorated soldiers will remain in prison after his lawyers did not apply for bail on Wednesday, a day after he was charged with war crimes.
Former Special Air Services officer Ben Roberts-Smith was charged with murdering unarmed prisoners captured in Afghanistan, following a sweeping war crimes probe.
The 47-year-old spent the night in a Sydney jail and his lawyer told an online bail court on Wednesday he would not seek an application for release, instead requesting an appearance at the city’s major courthouse. The case was adjourned to June.
Roberts-Smith, a distinguished soldier awarded Australia’s highest military honour for his efforts fighting insurgents, is facing five counts of “war crime-murder”. They included one “actual offence”, one “joint commission to an offence”, and three counts of aiding or abetting a murder.
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