A friend and former comrade of war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith has admitted the pair face a total of five murder allegations, including three aired for the first time on Thursday.
Under cross-examination by the newspapers’ barrister, Nicholas Owens, SC, Person 5 agreed on Thursday that a total of five murder allegations had been made against a patrol he commanded with Roberts-Smith as his second-in-charge, including two at a compound known as Whiskey 108 in 2009.Both of the Whiskey 108 allegations, denied by Roberts-Smith and Person 5, form part of the newspapers’ defence.
Person 5 agreed he was aware of allegations that he and Roberts-Smith had “blooded” two soldiers, dubbed Persons 8 and 32, by having them kill Afghan prisoners during that mission. The court has previously heard the term “blooding” referred to a soldier’s first kill.He said he was also aware of an allegation that Roberts-Smith killed a third prisoner during that mission. Under the rules of engagement that bound the SAS, it was unlawful to kill an unarmed prisoner.
He denied that he and Roberts-Smith were relying on each other to maintain their innocence in relation to all five alleged murders.The newspapers have alleged Roberts-Smith was involved in six unlawful killings in Afghanistan, all of which he denies. The three allegations confirmed by Person 5 on Thursday are separate to those six alleged killings.
Person 5, whose identity cannot be revealed for national security reasons, said he was willing to answer the question with the benefit of a certificate granted by Justice Anthony Besanko that prevents the evidence being used against him in any proceeding in an Australian court. , raising allegations that unnamed special forces soldiers pressured a “rookie” soldier to execute an unarmed Afghan detainee in 2009.
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