Ross Barnett

Ben Roberts-Smith is a highly decorated former Australian soldier, previously considered a war hero. He served in the Special Air Service (SAS) and left the defense force in 2013. Roberts-Smith is now newsworthy due to his arrest on charges of war crimes allegedly committed during his service in Afghanistan. He was apprehended at Sydney airport and is facing five counts of murder, accused of killing unarmed civilians. A defamation judgement in 2023 found him responsible for unlawful killings. This case is considered one of the most serious alleged war crimes cases in Australian history, marking a significant moment in holding individuals accountable for actions during conflict and raising questions about military conduct and oversight.