Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated soldier, will remain in custody for at least a week after his legal team declined to apply for bail during a virtual hearing on Wednesday. The former SAS soldier and Victoria Cross recipient, who has always denied wrongdoing, was charged with five counts of war crime – murder in relation to alleged offences in Afghanistan between April 2009 and October 2012.
Roberts-Smith, who spent Tuesday night at Silverwater correctional centre after his arrest at Sydney airport, did not appear at the hearing in New South Wales local court. His solicitor, Jordan Portokalli, said no bail application would be made, requesting the matter be listed for mention at Downing Centre local court in Sydney as soon as possible.
Judge Lucas Swan initially ordered a brief status mention on 4 June, but a bail review hearing was later listed for 17 April. Roberts-Smith, who will remain in custody until then, will appear via video link.
