In Brief
- Ben Roberts-Smith is facing charges for the alleged murders of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
- He remains in custody and is due to face court in June.
A family member of two Afghan men allegedly murdered by Ben Roberts-Smith or on his orders says he is relieved the former soldier will face justice over their deaths.
Father and son Mohammed Essa and Ahmadullah were killed during a raid by Australian special forces on a compound known as Whiskey 108 in Uruzgan Province in 2009.
Roberts-Smith — who was this week charged with five counts of the war crime of murder — allegedly machine-gunned Ahmadullah, who had a prosthetic leg, in the back, while his father was allegedly executed on the Victoria Cross recipient's orders.
Roberts-Smith, 47, is yet to enter pleas to the charges but has consistently and strongly denied wrongdoing.
Photos later emerged showing Roberts-Smith and other soldiers using Ahmadullah's prosthetic leg as a trophy to drink alcohol from.
Speaking to SBS News from Afghanistan, Esmatullah — the brother and son of the alleged victims — said he was relieved Roberts-Smith had been charged.
"Of course I'm happy," he said via a translator.
"It's a relief he's been caught."
Esmatullah, who was 10 at the time of his father's and brother's deaths, said he wished he could face Roberts-Smith in person but knew it was "not possible".
"As it stands, we cannot reach him to face him directly," he said.
"When someone is caught, they should be brought face-to-face so the truth comes out and we can distinguish the guilty from the innocent."
Esmatullah said the investigation and subsequent charges had "dragged on too long".
"I only ask that he be properly investigated and that the questioning and investigation process be carried out as soon as possible," he said.
Roberts-Smith, who is Australia's most decorated living soldier, was arrested and charged on Tuesday before his case was briefly mentioned at the Downing Centre Local Court the following day.
He did not apply for bail and the case was re-listed for 4 June, meaning he will remain in custody for at least two months.
Roberts-Smith is facing charges for the alleged murders of unarmed civilians while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
It's alleged three victims were shot by subordinate members of the Australian Defence Force, in the presence of, and acting on the orders of Roberts-Smith.
Roberts-Smith is the second Australian soldier to be charged with a war crime, with the possibility that others will also face charges.
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