War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith boasted to a fellow Special Air Service soldier that he had shot a young Afghan man in the head and it was “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”, the Federal Court has heard | courts
He said he did not tell anybody about what Mr Roberts-Smith told him because he was concerned it would be a “career-ending move” and his safety would be at risk.Person 16, whose identity cannot be revealed for national security reasons, told the court he was involved in a mission in 2012 in Fasil, Afghanistan, during which his patrol, which did not include Mr Roberts-Smith, encountered a group of Afghan men in a Toyota Hilux.
Person 16 said another soldier searched the Hilux and a call went out on the radio that it contained components for making improvised explosive devices.He said Mr Roberts-Smith’s patrol came over “a short time later ... and took the two males I had placed under constraint”. Person 16 assumed they were being taken away for questioning, he said.Within about 15 to 20 minutes there was a call over the radio of “EKIA”, Person 16 said, meaning “enemy killed in action”.
“I also think that my personal safety, I would have been in danger, by making such allegations against someone so influential.” The court heard an AK-47 style of weapon was placed on the body. Person 16 said the man did not have that weapon when he handcuffed him. After he was posted to the SAS, Person 16 said, he became aware that there were “two camps” of thought about Mr Roberts-Smith. Those against him saw him as belligerent and a bully who would “trash and tarnish” other people’s reputations.
Earlier on Friday, Justice Anthony Besanko admitted into evidence the handwritten notes of investigative journalist Chris Masters, who co-authored the articles at the centre of the case, from a 2018 meeting with a serving SAS soldier, dubbed Person 14. These notes are expected to be a key document in the proceedings.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Roberts-Smith boasted that killing young Afghan was ‘beautiful’, court toldWar veteran Ben Roberts-Smith told a fellow Special Air Service soldier he shot a young Afghan man in the head and it was “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”, the Federal Court has heard.
Read more »
Ben Roberts-Smith called alleged killing of unarmed Afghan teenager ‘beautiful thing’, court hearsRoberts-Smith has said in previous evidence the account of the alleged killing was ‘baseless’ and could not have happened
Read more »
Ben Roberts-Smith boasted of ‘beautiful’ murder of Afghan man, court hearsA special forces soldier has told a court that Ben Roberts-Smith bragged that shooting an unarmed and terrified adolescent Afghan man was 'the most beautiful thing I've ever seen':
Read more »
Ben Roberts-Smith trial hears of affair, SAS member who met with journalistsIt has been a bombshell day in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial, with a former solider considering pulling the pin on evidence. 9News
Read more »
Ditch divisive religious freedom laws: Smith-GanderLeading business figure Diane Smith-Gander has urged the Morrison government to start again on controversial religious freedom laws.
Read more »
Roberts-Smith boasted that killing young Afghan was ‘beautiful’, court toldWar veteran Ben Roberts-Smith told a fellow Special Air Service soldier he shot a young Afghan man in the head and it was “the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen”, the Federal Court has heard.
Read more »