Australian court grants bail to soldier accused of war crimes in Afghanistan

An Australian court has granted bail to former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, charged with murdering unarmed prisoners captured in Afghanistan following a sweeping war crimes probe.

"I'm satisfied that the proposed conditions will ameliorate the risk of flight and the risk of interfering with witnesses," Judge Greg Grogin told a Sydney court on Friday.

Judge Grogin said that, if refused bail, Roberts-Smith faced the prospect of "years and years" behind bars before having his day in court.

Should Roberts-Smith be found guilty, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The “heroic” soldier became a household name across Australia when he was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011, a medal reserved for only the most courageous wartime exploits.

But a landmark military report in 2020 revealed grave allegations against Australian troops sent to fight Taliban forces, accusing elite units of torture, summary executions, and "body count" competitions.

Roberts-Smith was then charged this month with five counts of "war crime — murder".

Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett said the 47-year-old was allegedly complicit in a string of unlawful killings between 2009 and 2012.