Ben Roberts-Smith’s comrades say he ordered them to execute unarmed civilians, court documents show

Former SAS corporal allegedly placed man on his knees and ordered fellow soldier to shoot him, according to statement of facts Australian soldiers have told prosecutors they executed unarmed civilians at the orders of Ben Roberts-Smith or in complicity with him, according to a statement of facts tendered to the New South Wales local court. Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient and once one of Australia’s most lionised soldiers, faces five charges of the war crime of murder, allegedly committed while he served in the Australian SAS in Afghanistan. Arrested and remanded in custody last week, Roberts-Smith was granted bail under strict conditions on Friday ahead of what is likely to be a marathon trial, not expected to go before a jury for a number of years. Roberts-Smith has not entered a plea to the charges, but has consistently denied any wrongdoing during his military service. Each charge of the war crime of murder carries a potential life sentence in prison. Under the heading “indemnified witnesses”, the statement of facts states that the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions has provided an undertaking to three soldier witnesses relevant to the current prosecuti