Roberts-Smith Stays in Jail, War Crime Charges Loom

0:00Ben Robert Smith, the 47-year-old war veteran and Victoria Cross recipient, is staying behind bars after his lawyers skipped a bail request. A court just adjourned his case until June 4th, keeping him in custody on five counts of murder as war crimes from his time in Afghanistan. These charges stemmed from alleged killings of unarmed Afghan civilians between 2009 and 2012. Folks who weren't fighting and had been detained. He got hit with them this Tuesday, marking a huge turn for this decorated soldier. Robert Smith spent last night at Sydney's Silverwater Prison Complex, and he didn't even have to show up for Wednesday's virtual hearing before judge. Lucas Swan, the whole thing highlights the heavy stakes in these war crime probes down under. His legal team pushed for an in-person court date at Sydney's Downing Center, but called it a long shot. Instead, the judge bumped it to June 4th, where Robert Smith will likely join by video link. The saga's far from over, with the full story set to unfold, come early, June eyes wide

1:02open on how it plays out for one of Australia's most honored vets, local news powered by AI. This is Sydney News Today.