Alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has condemned his “sensational arrest” at Sydney Airport as an “unnecessary spectacle”, and has restated his innocence.
In his first public statement since his April 7 arrest, the former solder said he had been subject to a ten-year “campaign” to convince Australians that I’ve acted improperly”.
“As I’ve always maintained: I categorically deny all of these allegations,” he said, addressing media while on bail at the Gold Coast.
Roberts-Smith has been charged with five counts of war crime murder over allegations he killed unarmed civilians while on service in Afghanistan.
A Victoria Cross recipient, and formerly the nation’s most celebrated soldier, Roberts-Smith sued Nine newspapers for defamation over reporting the war crimes allegations.
During the trial, 21 of Roberts-Smith’s fellow SAS soldiers testified against him and it was ruled that on the balance of probabilities –– the threshold for civil cases — that he had committed war crimes.
Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully appealed the mater all the way to High Court, meaning the civil findings cannot be overturned.
Regardless, Roberts-Smith today told media he would “take this opportunity” of being criminally charged to “finally clear my name”.
“I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan,” he said.
Roberts-Smith is accused of war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, including murdering, and ordering the execution of, unarmed civilians.
“Roberts-Smith is accused of murdering, and ordering the execution of, unarmed civilians”
Ben Roberts-Smith was arrested at Sydney Airport on April 7. Source: AFP
Roberts-Smith is accused of war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012, including murdering, and ordering the execution of, unarmed civilians.
It is alleged Roberts-Smith machine-gunned a disabled man, and later taking the man’s prosthetic leg to a bar as a trophy and drinking from it.
It is alleged the incidents were not “fog of war” events amid live combat, but undertaken in cold blood.
“It is alleged the incidents were not ‘fog of war’ events amid live combat, but undertaken in cold blood”
“For the past 10 years, my family and I have been subject to a campaign to convince Australians that I’ve acted improperly in my service in Afghanistan,” Roberts-Smith said in today’s statement.
“As I’ve always maintained: I categorically deny all of these allegations.
“And while I would have preferred these charges not be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name,” he said.
Ben Roberts Smith was bailed Friday despite the seriousness of his alleged crimes, him potentially being a “high flight risk”, and the risk of him interfering with justice. It “diverges from typical bail trends”, writes legal expert. Source: The Klaxon
Roberts-Smith’s statement Sunday continued:
“While I was there (Afghanistan), I always acted within my values, within my training and within the rules of engagement,” he said.
“I’d also like to say that I’m extremely proud of all of the men and women that served alongside me in Afghanistan and their service and sacrifice should never be forgotten, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“Many of whom were my friends.
“I’d like to thank my partner, Sarah, my beautiful daughters, my mother and father, and all of Sarah’s family for their unwavering support and for standing by me during this difficult time,” he said.
Ben Roberts-Smith addresses media today alongside his partner Sarah. Source: ABC
The former soldier said “millions of Australians” had reached out to him “publicly and privately” to express their support for him.
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank the millions of Australians who have reached out to me publicly and privately to offer their support and well wishes,” Roberts-Smith said.
“It means a great deal to me and is extremely humbling”.
Roberts-Smith called for the privacy of his family to be respected.
“This is an unprecedented case, and the public interest is huge, and the media has a job to do, which they should be allowed to do,” he said.
“But I would ask that the media please allow my family their privacy at this time, particularly my children who have already, unfortunately, suffered through a deliberate, sensational arrest that was made last week and [an] unnecessary spectacle”.
Roberts-Smith did not take any questions.
