Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyr reported in Israeli drone strike targeting motorcycle in Ain Qana.
Israeli media: Sirens sound in Nahal Oz settlement in Gaza Envelope.
Syria: Local sources report that General Security forces targeted the camp of French fighters from the 'al-Ghuraba division' in the Idlib countryside with mortar and tank shells.
Syria: Local sources report a general military mobilization of foreign fighters in Idlib following armed clashes in the “French Camp” in the Idlib countryside.
Syria: Local sources report that International Coalition forces carried out an airdrop operation on a house in the village of al-Kassar, eastern countryside of Deir Ezzor.
Local sources: 3 killed, 7 injured in attack on transport bus in Idlib countryside, Syria
The 'French faction' in Idlib announces that Syrian security forces are preparing to attack its camp amid accusations that it is collaborating with ISIS.
Palestinian media: Israeli occupation forces storm the Old City in the center of Nablus, occupied West Bank
Local sources to Al Mayadeen: Sudanese army forces drones strike town of Kabkabiya, North Darfur.
Syrian Observatory: The plane is loaded with air defense systems and heavy weapons as part of US troop reinforcements to its bases in northeastern Syria

Australian soldier guilty of war crimes refuses to apologize

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 15 Jun 2023 15:32
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

In his first public appearance since the ruling, Ben Roberts-Smith, holder of the Victoria Cross and other top military honors, refuses to apologize for killing Afghani citizens.

  • x
  • Australian Corporal Mark Donaldson congratulating Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith (R) after he received a Victoria Cross for his gallantry under fire during operations in Afghanistan. (AFP)
    Australian Corporal Mark Donaldson congratulating Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith (R) after he received a Victoria Cross (AFP)

At the beginning of this month, an Australian federal court judge in Sydney ruled that Ben Roberts-Smith VC, the country's "most decorated" living soldier, committed war crimes, including the murder of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan.

In his first public appearance since the ruling, Ben Roberts-Smith, holder of the Victoria Cross and other top military honors, refused to apologize for killing Afghani citizens, stating that he remained proud of his actions in Afghanistan.

It is worth noting that he served in the Special Air Service on six tours from 2006 to 2012.

#Australian soldiers film themselves murdering a young, unarmed #Afghan man. pic.twitter.com/y5d5XfOuh2

— tim anderson (@timand2037) March 18, 2020

"We will look at it and consider whether or not we need to file an appeal," Roberts-Smith said during an interview for a local television crew at the Perth Airport baggage on Wednesday.

A flashback

On June 1, Justice Anthony Besanko found Ben Roberts-Smith guilty of war crimes after he had sued media outlets for defamation for revealing some of the crimes he had committed in Afghanistan.

Related News

Egypt welcomes Pakistan-Afghanistan ceasefire deal

Pakistan and Afghanistan agree to ceasefire after Doha talks

Justice Anthony Besanko found Roberts-Smith guilty of kicking a handcuffed prisoner off a cliff in 2012 and ordering a subordinate soldier to shoot the injured man.

Videos: Australian forces killing Afghan civilians as "quotas"

Additionally, Roberts-Smith was found responsible for the killing of an elderly man found hiding in a tunnel and the murder of a disabled man with a prosthetic leg, both during the same mission in 2009 when Australian forces attacked a compound codenamed "Whiskey 108".

The judgment, reached after a year-long defamation trial, does not constitute a criminal finding but is based on the civil standard of "balance of probabilities," according to Australian law. The federal court has published a summary of the judgment, with the full reasons set to be released once national security concerns have been addressed by the Commonwealth.

The newspapers sued by Roberts-Smith have requested time to assess the trial costs. The ruling is expected to result in Roberts-Smith being liable to pay millions of dollars in costs to the newspapers, with the total trial expenses estimated to be over $35 million (£18.3 million).

Roberts-Smith, who had borrowed $2 million from his employer, Channel Seven owner Kerry Stokes, for the defamation case, is now at risk of losing his Victoria Cross medal, which he had used as collateral.

The former Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) soldier is currently in Bali, Indonesia, where he is enjoying the weather and could be seen sunbathing at a resort, according to screenshots published by media outlets, and was not under obligation to attend the hearing.

The judge said Roberts-Smith is a "criminal" who "broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement."

Read next: Australian Soldier Ben Roberts Smith: Hero or War Criminal?

  • Afghanistan
  • Ben Roberts-Smith
  • war crimes
  • Australia

Most Read

Yemeni Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Abd al-Karim al-Ghamari , during a ceremony in an undisclosed locations in Yemen, undate (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces mourn martyred Chief of Staff al-Ghamari

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025
How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

How an Israeli-backed firm spied on US churches to push propaganda

  • Politics
  • 15 Oct 2025
From previous scenes of the Qassam Brigades targeting an Israeli D9 bulldozer with a Yassin 105 shell, east of Deir al-Balah. (Military Media of the Qassam Brigades)

US knew fatal Rafah blast cause was not Hamas op., says journalist

  • Politics
  • 20 Oct 2025
Smoke and fire rises after 'Israel' launched airstrikes on the village of Ansar, Lebanon, October 16, 2025 (social media)

'Israel' launches two waves of brutal strikes on east, south Lebanon

  • Politics
  • 16 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An Israeli settler stands over a woman who was harvesting olives after assaulting her, October 19, 2025 (social media)
Politics

West Bank sees 757 Israeli settler attacks in one year

The OpenAI logo appears on a mobile phone in front of a screen showing part of the company website in this photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023 (AP)
Technology

OpenAI unveils new search browser built around chatGPT

White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, from right, and War Secretary Pete Hegseth listen as President Donald Trump meets in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Monday, October 20, 2025, in Washington (AP)
Politics

‘Your mom’ politics take over Trump administration

Hezbollah Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem during a public address on October 21, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sheikh Qassem: Lebanon stability depends on ending Israeli aggression

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS