Roberts-Smith on Trial: Allegations Range From Shooting Civilians to Using Prosthetics as Drinking Cups
Former ADF member Ben Roberts-Smith faces charges of five war crime murders stemming from his service in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. The core allegations involve the killing of unarmed civilians.
Commenters report highly specific brutality claims. 'taygaloocat' details allegations of Roberts-Smith ordering the shooting of unarmed men twice, kicking a farmer off a cliff, and having a captive's prosthetic leg used as a drinking vessel. The discussion also surfaces David McBride's conviction, noting 'cornishon' reported his 2024 sentencing for disclosing Commonwealth documents. Some viewers, like 'Blakey,' suggest his past failure was due to a tarnished reputation, not legal acquittal. Others bring up explicit disturbing comments, like 'Sandouq_Dyatha' referencing finding the murder of a 15-year-old 'beautiful.'
The overwhelming sentiment views Roberts-Smith's alleged actions with extreme criticism. The controversy pivots around David McBride's legal troubles, but the general weight of the discussion focuses on accountability for the alleged war crimes.
Key Points
Roberts-Smith is charged with five war crime murders in Afghanistan.
Multiple sources cite his 2009-2012 service and charges relating to killing unarmed civilians.
Specific allegations include trophy taking and execution of unarmed men.
'taygaloocat' reported details including a prosthetic leg used as a drinking vessel and kicking a farmer off a cliff.
David McBride faced criminal charges himself.
'cornishon' noted McBride was sentenced in 2024 for unlawfully disclosing Commonwealth documents, which complicates the narrative for some viewers.
The critique of Roberts-Smith's past reputation is central.
'Blakey' suggested his previous legal struggles stemmed from a ruined reputation rather than legal findings.
Comments surface extreme, shocking details of alleged brutality.
Users shared allegations ranging from ordered killings to explicit comments about finding young people's deaths 'beautiful' ('Sandouq_Dyatha').
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.