Alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith has been granted a bail variation allowing him to relocate to Brisbane to be closer to his family. Roberts-Smith, 47, faces five charges of murder in relation to his service with the Special Air Service in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.
Roberts-Smith has denied any involvement in unlawful killings. Following his arrest in April, he was released on bail with strict conditions, including travel restrictions outside of Queensland, surrender of his passport, and limited use of a phone and laptop, details of which had to be provided to police. He was also prohibited from contacting prosecution witnesses and ordered to report to police three times a week.
Last month, Roberts-Smith applied to the Downing Centre Local Court to alter his bail-listed residence and sought approval to attend veteran ceremonies in the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales. On Monday, Judge Susan Horan granted the bail variation.
Roberts-Smith's partner, Sarah Matulin, and his twin daughters were present when he was taken into custody in April. At the time, Roberts-Smith described his arrest as "an unnecessary spectacle" and stated he would not shy away from the legal process.
He is accused under the Commonwealth Criminal Code of shooting dead one unarmed Afghan, murdering another with a fellow SAS soldier, and ordering the execution of three more. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Roberts-Smith's arrest occurred nearly three years after he lost a defamation case against Nine newspapers, which had published reports in 2018 accusing him of war crimes.
Roberts-Smith is scheduled to return to court on September 1.