Media circus greets Ben Roberts-Smith as he arrives home
Ben Roberts-Smith arrived home in the Gold Coast yesterday after being granted bail, with a media posse waiting outside his apartment.
Ben Roberts-Smith has arrived home in the Gold Coast after being granted bail, with a media posse waiting outside his apartment.
The former Special Air Service corporal, who was freed from Sydney’s Silverwater Correctional Centre on Friday, was photographed as he and his partner Sarah Matuli pulled into the gated property following the long drive.
Mr Roberts-Smith is required to reside at the apartment as part of strict bail conditions.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.He faces five war crimes charges in the extraordinary case, which took a further dramatic twist on Friday with the revelation that four SAS soldiers, who admitted killing detainees in Afghanistan, have been granted immunity against prosecution in return for testifying against the Victoria Cross awardee.
A statement of facts provided by the Federal Director of Public Prosecutions to Mr Roberts-Smith’s bail hearing revealed the witnesses had provided written statements describing the executions, which they said they had taken part in.
“Each of these witnesses has admitted their personal involvement in executing one or more detainees at the direction or with the complicity of Roberts-Smith,” it stated.
Despite allegations from the prosecution that the accused had made plans to leave Australia and might try to intimidate witnesses, Local Court judge Gregory Grogin granted him bail, citing the difficulty of accessing classified evidence in preparation for his trial from jail.
Mr Roberts-Smith has not entered pleas to the charges and has consistently maintained his innocence.
He was seen arriving at his apartment wearing a blue polo shirt and his cap as he drove into the complex.
A media helicopter hovered overhead shortly after the group arrived, reflecting the intense public interest surrounding the case.
Under his bail conditions, Roberts-Smith must report to Tweed Heads Police Station three times a week, beginning Monday, while the legal process continues.
Simon Buchen, a lawyer for the Federal Government, said there was “a strong likelihood of further charges” and the Government would seek the maximum penalty, which is life imprisonment.
