Ben Roberts-Smith, recently released on bail, made his initial appearance at a police station, adhering to his strict bail requirements. Notably, he wore a cap bearing the phrase ‘Black Sheep’.
The decorated Victoria Cross recipient faces charges related to the alleged killings of five Afghan nationals between 2009 and 2012 during his tenure with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan. As part of his bail conditions, he must check in with the police three times weekly.
On Monday morning, Roberts-Smith was seen briefly entering a police station in New South Wales, though the exact location remains undisclosed.
Afterwards, he returned to a silver Audi, chauffeured by his partner Sarah Matulin, who had discreetly dropped him off nearby.
When questioned by the media about his feelings on the mandatory police visits, the 47-year-old remarked, “It’s got to be done, mate… just another day.”
Roberts-Smith also engaged with supporters who called out to him from a café in the vicinity.
‘Good on ya Ben, legend,’ a man shouted as Roberts-Smith waved and gave the thumbs-up.
He strode into the police station wearing a distinctive dark grey hat with a black sheep emblazoned along the top of it.
The cap was the Goorin Brothers ‘Black Sheep Trucker Cap’, which typically sells for about $140.
He was also wearing a grey sleeveless ‘Project Rock’ gym top from Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson’s collaboration with sports retailer Under Armour.
Ben Roberts-Smith wore a distinctive hat with a black sheep emblazoned along the top of it as he reported to a police station on Monday morning
He was also asked by reporters if he would be attending any Anzac Day services but refused to answer.
Roberts-Smith’s bail appearance comes less than 24 hours after he slammed the actions of police as ‘sensational’ in his first public address since he was charged with alleged war crimes.
While holding a brief press conference on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Sunday afternoon, Roberts-Smith said the high-profile nature of his arrest at Sydney Domestic Airport on April 7 has impacted his family greatly.
‘I understand this is an unprecedented case and the public interest is huge… but I’d ask that the media please allow my family their privacy at this time, particularly my children, who have already unfortunately suffered through a deliberate sensational arrest that was made last week,’ Roberts-Smith said.
‘An unnecessary spectacle. I understand this journey will be long, I understand this journey will be difficult, but I can promise everybody that I have never ran from a fight in my life.
‘I will never give up and I will always be in the fight.’
He said he looked forward to clearing his name in court.
‘As I’ve always maintained, I categorically deny all of these allegations, and while I would have preferred these charges not be brought, I will be taking this opportunity to finally clear my name,’ he said.
His partner, Sarah Matulin, dropped him around the corner from the police station and then quickly picked him up
Ms Matulin was by his side as he gave a brief address to the media on Sunday afternoon
The couple quickly walked off hand-in-hand after Roberts-Smith finished his statement
‘I’m proud of my service in Afghanistan. While I was there, I always acted within my values, within my training, and within the rules of engagement.’
Roberts-Smith also said he was ‘extremely proud’ of the men and women that served alongside him in Afghanistan and paid tribute to those who made the ‘ultimate sacrifice.’
He also thanked Ms Matulin, his ‘beautiful’ 15-year-old twin daughters, his parents and Ms Matulin’s family for their ‘unwavering’ support, and made reference to the ‘millions of Australians’ who had reached out to him to offer their support.
‘It means a great deal to me and is extremely humbling,’ he added.
As he wrapped up his address, Roberts-Smith said he wouldn’t be taking questions from reporters and quickly walked off hand-in-hand with Ms Matulin, who was standing beside him as he gave his statement.
Roberts-Smith was granted bail on Friday after Local Court Judge Greg Grogin said the former soldier would likely spend ‘years and years’ in custody if bail was refused.
Among the strict bail conditions facing him are restrictions on his travel outside of his home state of Queensland (unless for legal or medical appointments), the surrender of his passport, and the restricted use one phone and one laptop, the details of which must be provided to police.
He has also been banned from contacting any prosecution witness directly or through another party.
Roberts-Smith fronted court in prison greens on Friday as his lawyers argued for his release
The court also demanded a $250,000 surety, which would be forfeited if Roberts-Smith failed to attend court, or in any way breached his bail. It’s understood his father Len, a former judge, had offered to provide that surety.
He is due to face court again on June 5.
Roberts-Smith is accused under the Commonwealth Criminal Code of shooting dead an unarmed Afghan, murdering another with an SAS comrade, and ordering the execution of three more.
Roberts-Smith’s arrest came almost three years after he lost a defamation action against Nine newspapers, which published a series of reports in 2018 accusing him of being a war criminal.
The case against Roberts-Smith will be run by the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and his defence funded by the Afghanistan Inquiry Legal Assistance Scheme.
Each of the charges against Roberts-Smith carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
He has always denied involvement in any unlawful killings.
