The Australian War Memorial has revised its display for Ben Roberts-Smith, a former Special Air Service corporal, following his official charge with five counts of the war crime of murder. The updated plaque in the Hall of Valour now includes references to the charges and the ongoing legal process, replacing the previous statement that he had not been charged with any criminal offence.
Matt Anderson, the memorial's director, said the institution is committed to keeping the public informed while respecting the presumption of innocence. 'The memorial's commitment throughout this entire process … has been to ensure that the panel in the galleries is up to date and covers the facts,' he stated, adding that the most important thing now is to allow justice to take its course.
Anderson confirmed that Roberts-Smith's equipment, uniform, and medal groups will remain on display, citing his actions on 11 June 2010 in Afghanistan as the reason for his inclusion in the Hall of Valour alongside other Victoria Cross recipients.
The update comes as Roberts-Smith awaits a bail hearing, coinciding with the opening of 7,000 square metres of new gallery space as part of the memorial's controversial $500 million expansion. The panel will remain in its current form until a verdict is reached in any criminal trial.
