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StoryApr 7 – Apr 1913 days19 articles6 outletsAustralia

Australia's most-decorated soldier vows to 'fight' war crime charges

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, has denied all war crime charges against him following his recent arrest. The former SAS corporal is accused of involvement in the murders of unarmed Afghan detainees between 2009 and 2012.

§ 01

The story so far

  1. Apr 7
  2. Apr 8
  3. Apr 9
  4. Apr 17
  5. Apr 19
§ 02

How outlets cover it

6 outlets
South China Morning Post
Privately owned · Hong Kong · 1 article
Articles by outlet lean
Left-leaning 7 Center 7 Right-leaning 2 Not rated 3

Not rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.

Main angle of each article AI-classified
Legal & Judicial
19
§ 03

Open questions and key claims

The victims were not taking part in hostilities at the time of their alleged murder in Afghanistan.

The arrest was a “significant and long-awaited step for victims and affected communities” in Afghanistan.

Rawan Arraf, the executive director of the Australian Centre for International Justice
via Al Jazeera · Apr 7

Pauline Hanson says she will not “abandon” Ben Roberts-Smith despite his arrest over war crimes.

The Greens declare “no one should be above the law”.

It will be alleged the victims were shot by the accused or shot by subordinate members of the ADF acting on the orders of the accused.

Commissioner Krissy Barrett
via BBC News · Apr 7

Jordan Portokalli said no application for bail would be made on Wednesday.

Roberts-Smith denies all wrongdoing, previously calling the claims "egregious".

Roberts-Smith denies all wrongdoing and says the allegations are 'egregious'.

§ 04

Who and where

Ben Roberts-Smith person Afghanistan location Australia location Australian Federal Police organization Sydney location
§ 05

Related stories over time

same people and places
  1. Nov 30, 2025 – Dec 15, 2025 earlier
  2. Dec 14, 2025 – Dec 23, 2025 earlier
  3. Jan 18 – Jan 22 earlier
  4. Feb 3 – Feb 12 earlier
  5. Apr 7 – Apr 19◆ This story
  6. Apr 25 – May 8 later
  7. Jul 13 – Jul 16 later
  8. Aug 21 later
  9. Sep 28 later
§ 06

All coverage

19 articles · newest first