Latest news with #BenRoberts-Smith
Sydney Morning Herald
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
War crimes investigator launches raids in major escalation
The elite anti-war crimes agency probing the involvement of ex-SAS soldiers in executions in Afghanistan conducted surprise raids in Perth on Wednesday as part of its ongoing investigations. It is the first time the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) has launched raids on targets and amounts to a major escalation of its almost five-year inquiry into civilian deaths at the hands of Australian soldiers. The raids were confirmed by three official sources not permitted to speak publicly about the agency's work. It is not clear if the raids were connected to the OSI's examination of disgraced former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, although detectives from the agency have spent months finalising the statements of witnesses who have agreed to testify against the disgraced war hero over his execution of prisoners and civilians. The OSI is examining suspected murders beyond the four cases that were part of the ex-soldier's failed bid to clear his name. Witness statements collected by the OSI also deal with attempts by Roberts-Smith to cover up his war crimes. The raids were welcomed by SAS veterans who served in Afghanistan and who believe Roberts-Smith and the small number of other soldiers who allegedly executed civilians and prisoners brought shame onto the special forces regiment and should be held to account. However, veterans who back the war crimes suspects turned to social media to attack the OSI actions, claiming the raids were unjust. One post claimed the war crimes investigators, who include some of Australia's most experienced homicide detectives, were trying to 'shake the tree' to find evidence. This masthead revealed last week that the OSI, which has been investigating war criminal Roberts-Smith over multiple murders, including cases not canvassed in his marathon defamation trial, has secured the co-operation of new witnesses. Roberts-Smith's comprehensive loss before the full bench of the Federal Court – which affirmed the finding that the Special Air Service Regiment veteran ordered the murder of four Afghans – paved the way for the OSI to prosecute the former corporal.
The Age
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
War crimes investigator launches raids in major escalation
The elite anti-war crimes agency probing the involvement of ex-SAS soldiers in executions in Afghanistan conducted surprise raids in Perth on Wednesday as part of its ongoing investigations. It is the first time the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) has launched raids on targets and amounts to a major escalation of its almost five-year inquiry into civilian deaths at the hands of Australian soldiers. The raids were confirmed by three official sources not permitted to speak publicly about the agency's work. It is not clear if the raids were connected to the OSI's examination of disgraced former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, although detectives from the agency have spent months finalising the statements of witnesses who have agreed to testify against the disgraced war hero over his execution of prisoners and civilians. The OSI is examining suspected murders beyond the four cases that were part of the ex-soldier's failed bid to clear his name. Witness statements collected by the OSI also deal with attempts by Roberts-Smith to cover up his war crimes. The raids were welcomed by SAS veterans who served in Afghanistan and who believe Roberts-Smith and the small number of other soldiers who allegedly executed civilians and prisoners brought shame onto the special forces regiment and should be held to account. However, veterans who back the war crimes suspects turned to social media to attack the OSI actions, claiming the raids were unjust. One post claimed the war crimes investigators, who include some of Australia's most experienced homicide detectives, were trying to 'shake the tree' to find evidence. This masthead revealed last week that the OSI, which has been investigating war criminal Roberts-Smith over multiple murders, including cases not canvassed in his marathon defamation trial, has secured the co-operation of new witnesses. Roberts-Smith's comprehensive loss before the full bench of the Federal Court – which affirmed the finding that the Special Air Service Regiment veteran ordered the murder of four Afghans – paved the way for the OSI to prosecute the former corporal.
The Age
22-05-2025
- The Age
Investigators probe Ben Roberts-Smith over more murders and video drinking from dead man's prosthetic limb
The secretive agency investigating war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith over multiple murders, including cases not canvassed in his marathon defamation trial, has secured the co-operation of new witnesses. Amid the damning fresh evidence is footage of the disgraced ex-soldier swilling beer from the prosthetic leg of an Afghan man he executed. Roberts-Smith's comprehensive loss before the full bench of the Federal Court – which affirmed the finding that the Special Air Service Regiment veteran ordered the murder of four Afghans – paves the way for the Office of the Special Investigator (OSI) to move to prosecute the former corporal. The OSI is examining suspected murders beyond the four cases that were part of the ex-soldier's failed bid to clear his name. Five sources with knowledge of the OSI's ongoing four-year investigation said its investigators had secured co-operation from key witnesses who had not participated in Roberts-Smith's defamation trial. The OSI is working closely with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions as it builds its case against Roberts-Smith, having collected statements from over a dozen SASR soldiers who claim Roberts-Smith arranged or participated in executions, including an incident in which he kicked a bound civilian off a small cliff. The OSI has also uncovered a video of Roberts-Smith drinking from the prosthetic leg of a man he had earlier executed during an Easter Sunday 2009 operation targeting a compound called Whiskey 108. The video was filmed in a makeshift bar called the Fat Lady's Arms at the Australian army base in southern Afghanistan and contradicts Roberts-Smith's evidence during his defamation trial when he told Justice Anthony Besanko he had never drunk from the plastic leg.
The Age
21-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
WA news LIVE: Former Perth teacher charged with historical child sex offences
Latest posts Latest posts 9.45am Former teacher charged with historical child sex offences A 64-year-old man will face court today over alleged child sex offences dating back to 1992 and 1993, when he was a teacher at a high school in Perth. The man, who now lives in Spencer Park in Albany, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a female student at the school. Sex assault squad detectives charged the man on Thursday last week with one count of sexually penetrating a child over 16 years under their care, and one count of indecently deals with a child over 16 under their authority. The man is due to appear before Albany Magistrates Court today. 9.45am Across the country Here's what's making news elsewhere this morning: Labor's contentious environmental reforms could pass with support from the Liberal Party after the Coalition split, as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she will work with the government on changes bitterly opposed by the Nationals during the previous term of parliament. The secretive agency investigating war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith over multiple murders, including cases not canvassed in his marathon defamation trial, has secured the co-operation of new witnesses. Amid the damning fresh evidence is footage of the disgraced ex-soldier swilling beer from the prosthetic leg of an Afghan man he executed. Australia's leading cyber intelligence and security agency has condemned attacks by a notorious Russian hacking group known as 'Fancy Bear', which is accused of orchestrating a cyber-espionage campaign targeting critical infrastructure and organisations aiding Ukraine's war effort. The time it takes to build an apartment has blown out to more than 2½ times the period required to construct a house. National completion times for apartments have increased from 1.7 years in 2012 to 2013 to 2.7 years in 2023 to 2024. 9.44am Today's weather 9.44am Welcome to our live news blog Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Thursday, May 22. Making headlines today is the latest from an ongoing furore over what has become one of the 'most policed areas of Perth', according to the state's police minister. Inglewood residents living near a trouble-plagued public housing complex warn anti-social behaviour could escalate unless the government steps up efforts to clamp down on the issue. They took their concerns to parliament on Wednesday, where Housing Minister John Carey was grilled during question time – and heckled from the public gallery. Meanwhile, it's no secret the current situation for Perth's renters is dire. Those who are looking to secure a place to live are forking out lots more than they would just a few years ago, while tenants brace for rent increases. But how about an increase of $300 a week? Yes, you read that right. It seems a bit much? That was the amount WAtoday reporter Holly Thompson and her partner were hit with in a recent rent hike. It feels like it should be illegal – but it isn't. And finally, in the latest instalment of our Three Things I Love series, WAtoday speaks with Young Volunteer of the Year Bree Del Borello of Lancelin to find out what she treasures most about her home state.
Sydney Morning Herald
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
WA news LIVE: Former Perth teacher charged with historical child sex offences
Latest posts Latest posts 9.45am Former teacher charged with historical child sex offences A 64-year-old man will face court today over alleged child sex offences dating back to 1992 and 1993, when he was a teacher at a high school in Perth. The man, who now lives in Spencer Park in Albany, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a female student at the school. Sex assault squad detectives charged the man on Thursday last week with one count of sexually penetrating a child over 16 years under their care, and one count of indecently deals with a child over 16 under their authority. The man is due to appear before Albany Magistrates Court today. 9.45am Across the country Here's what's making news elsewhere this morning: Labor's contentious environmental reforms could pass with support from the Liberal Party after the Coalition split, as Opposition Leader Sussan Ley says she will work with the government on changes bitterly opposed by the Nationals during the previous term of parliament. The secretive agency investigating war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith over multiple murders, including cases not canvassed in his marathon defamation trial, has secured the co-operation of new witnesses. Amid the damning fresh evidence is footage of the disgraced ex-soldier swilling beer from the prosthetic leg of an Afghan man he executed. Australia's leading cyber intelligence and security agency has condemned attacks by a notorious Russian hacking group known as 'Fancy Bear', which is accused of orchestrating a cyber-espionage campaign targeting critical infrastructure and organisations aiding Ukraine's war effort. The time it takes to build an apartment has blown out to more than 2½ times the period required to construct a house. National completion times for apartments have increased from 1.7 years in 2012 to 2013 to 2.7 years in 2023 to 2024. 9.44am Today's weather 9.44am Welcome to our live news blog Good morning readers, and welcome to our live news blog for Thursday, May 22. Making headlines today is the latest from an ongoing furore over what has become one of the 'most policed areas of Perth', according to the state's police minister. Inglewood residents living near a trouble-plagued public housing complex warn anti-social behaviour could escalate unless the government steps up efforts to clamp down on the issue. They took their concerns to parliament on Wednesday, where Housing Minister John Carey was grilled during question time – and heckled from the public gallery. Meanwhile, it's no secret the current situation for Perth's renters is dire. Those who are looking to secure a place to live are forking out lots more than they would just a few years ago, while tenants brace for rent increases. But how about an increase of $300 a week? Yes, you read that right. It seems a bit much? That was the amount WAtoday reporter Holly Thompson and her partner were hit with in a recent rent hike. It feels like it should be illegal – but it isn't. And finally, in the latest instalment of our Three Things I Love series, WAtoday speaks with Young Volunteer of the Year Bree Del Borello of Lancelin to find out what she treasures most about her home state.
