The murder allegations against decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith

The murder allegations against decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith4 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTiffanie TurnbullandLana Lam,SydneyAFP PHOTO / ROCCO FAZZARIA court sketch of Roberts-Smith during his bail hearing on FridayWarning: This story contains distressing contentBeaming into a small Sydney courtroom on Friday via video link, Ben Roberts-Smith sat silently as he appeared on war crimes charges for the first time.The country's most-decorated living soldier was earlier this month charged with five counts of murder - allegedly committed while the former Special Air Service (SAS) corporal was deployed to Afghanistan on Australia's behalf.Fresh court documents seen by the BBC reveal – in detail – allegations that the 47-year-old murdered a disabled Afghan detainee, kicked a handcuffed prisoner off a cliff, ordered rookie soldiers execute others in an initiation practice called "blooding", and planted items on the alleged victims to cover-up misconduct.Roberts-Smith vehemently denies the claims, which his lawyer says are "unchartered legal territory" for Australia – a country that has never held a war crimes trial.So what are the allegations - and what happens next?'Whiskey 108' Compound - 12 April 2009Roberts-Smith joined the Australian Defence Force (ADF) as a fresh-faced 18-year-old, and did two tours in East Timor before joining the SAS in 2003.By the time he was sent to a compound dubbed "Whiskey 108" on 12 April 2009, he had more than a decade of service and a Medal of Gallantry under his belt.Australian troops had been battling Taliban insurgents at the site near Tarin Kowt, in central Afghanistan, and Roberts-Smith's SAS crew were called in to clear it after an airstrike, the court documents state.They discovered a tunnel from which they pulled and handcuffed two men – identified by prosecutors as father and son, Mohammad Essa and Ahmadullah.Ahmadullah, who wore a prosthetic leg,...