Ben Roberts-Smith gets bail on war crimes charges related to Afghan deaths

AP News — Apr 17, 04:56 AM

Australia’s most decorated living veteran has been granted bail 10 days after he was charged with committing war crimes in Afghanistan.

The judge ruled Friday that Ben Roberts-Smith had established exceptional circumstances to justify his release from custody.

Prosecutors had opposed bail and argued there was a risk he would flee Australia or interfere with witnesses and evidence.

The charges against him allege he was responsible for the unlawful killings of five Afghans in Uruzgan province in 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith testified during a separate civil trial that he never killed an unarmed Afghan and he denied ever committing a war crime.