Roberts-Smith’s media blitz is playing with danger for his murder trial

October 24, 2026 — 2:00am

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Usually, when a person is charged with criminal offences, they will say nothing to anyone other than their lawyers, and perhaps family and close friends.

But former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has taken a radically different approach with his lengthy and sympathetic interview with Sydney radio host Ben Fordham on Thursday. Not only is this strategy different, there are risks attached to doing interviews before a criminal trial.

This is no critique of Roberts-Smith’s legal team. We don’t know what advice he was given or the tactical approach to the case.

Roberts-Smith has been charged with five counts of the war crime of murder alleged to have been committed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

He adamantly denies the charges, and of course, has the presumption of innocence. Thursday’s interview was wide-ranging and covered his denials about the allegations against him, but also his reflections on his unsuccessful Federal Court........

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