‘I Will Clear My Name’: Ben Roberts-Smith Breaks Silence After War Crimes Charges

Getty Images

Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, has publicly denied all allegations against him after being charged with five counts of the war crime of murder, declaring he will use the case as an opportunity to “finally” clear his name.

The 47-year-old, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, was released on bail on Friday following his arrest earlier this month. Speaking publicly for the first time since the charges were filed, he said he remained proud of his military service.

“I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan,” Roberts-Smith said. “While I was there, I always acted within my values, within my training and within the rules of engagement.”

Roberts-Smith, a former corporal in Australia’s elite Special Air Service Regiment, is accused of involvement in the deaths of unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012. Prosecutors allege he either carried out the killings himself or directed a subordinate to do so.

He rejected the accusations, acknowledging the legal battle ahead but framing it as a chance to defend his reputation. “I understand this journey will be difficult,” he said. “But I can promise everybody that I have never run from a fight in my life.”

Describing his arrest as a “sensational” and “unnecessary spectacle,” Roberts-Smith declined to take questions from journalists during his statement.

He was arrested at Sydney Airport on 7 April before being granted bail. The presiding judge described the case as “exceptional,” noting that without bail, the former soldier could have spent “years and years” in custody before the matter proceeds to trial.

The charges mark a significant escalation in a long-running controversy surrounding Australia’s military conduct in Afghanistan. Roberts-Smith has consistently denied wrongdoing, and the case is expected to be closely watched both domestically and internationally as it moves through the courts.