War Hero Charged with War Crimes

0:00Ben Robert Smith, once Australia's most decorated living soldier with a Victoria Cross and other top honors, now faces five war crime murder. Charges from his time in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The allegations say he either killed unarmed detainees or helped subordinates do it in three incidents. He's the second Australian Defense Force member charged under local war crimes law, and he's been locked up in a single cell at Sydney Silverwater. Jail, since his arrest this week, bail might come up at a hearing late next week. This builds on a long legal fight. Robert Smith lost a big defamation case against newspapers in May 2023, where the court backed claims of his war crimes as substantially true. That civil ruling was easier to prove than the criminal case ahead, which needs proof beyond reasonable doubt. It all ties back to the Barretton inquiry from 2016 to 2020, which uncovered credible evidence of 39 unlawful killings by. Special forces in 23 incidents, including practices like blooding junior soldiers and planting throw downs on bodies.

1:06Inside the military, it stirred deep divisions and a reckoning over Afghanistan. The inquiry praised most troops but pin blame on patrol commanders for fostering a warrior culture gone wrong. Veterans feel disgust at alleged crimes, but gripe about slow probes over five years and $250 million spent, and question why. Higher-ups escape scrutiny, despite overrelying on elite units for 12-plus deployments each. We actions poured in fast after his public airport arrest in front of family. Conservative politicians like Nationals MPs and Pauline Hanson voiced support slamming the timing and spectacle while opposition leader Angus Taylor. Called it heavy-handed. Billionaires like Gina Reinhardt urged compassion in eye taxpayer costs and funding options exist through government schemes for legal aid. And victim compensation tied to the inquiry. As this high stakes trial looms, it tests Australia's commitment to holding its heroes accountable, pushing the defense force to rebuild trust, and spread missions beyond special ops for good.

2:12That rap Sydney news today brought to you with AI. I'm Cory with the story.