1. ANSWER
Credible sources indicate that both elements of the claim are true with respect to Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier and former SASR (Australian Special Air Service Regiment) member recently charged with war crimes. His ex-wife and a family friend unearthed and provided incriminating USB drives containing text messages related to alleged cover-ups of war crimes, which were used in court.1 Multiple fellow SASR soldiers, referred to as his "SAS brothers," testified against him in his 2021-2023 defamation trial, providing eyewitness accounts of alleged murders in Afghanistan.23

2. EVIDENCE
- Ben Roberts-Smith's ex-wife, Emma Roberts, along with a family friend, dug up six USB sticks buried in a plastic lunchbox in their family backyard in 2018. These contained text messages where Roberts-Smith allegedly instructed an associate to delete photos of a prosthetic leg from a man he is accused of murdering (Ali Jan), along with other material relevant to war crime allegations. The USBs were revealed during his defamation trial against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and Channel 9 (August 2021 reporting).1
- In the same defamation trial (2021-2023), at least 21 witnesses, including serving and former SASR soldiers who served alongside him, gave evidence against Roberts-Smith, describing incidents like the alleged executions of unarmed Afghan prisoners (e.g., at Whiskey 108 in 2012). A judge ruled in June 2023 that the newspapers' war crime reports were substantially true on the balance of probabilities; his appeal was dismissed in May 2025.24
- Roberts-Smith was arrested on April 7, 2026, and charged with five counts of war crime murders in Afghanistan (2009-2012), based on the Brereton Inquiry (2020) and related investigations. He remains in custody pending trial.56
No conflicting findings on these specifics; Roberts-Smith denies the allegations, claiming witnesses were coerced or unreliable, but courts have upheld the evidence's credibility.

3. CRITICAL CONTEXT
Supporters of Roberts-Smith, including some veterans and politicians, question the motives of whistleblowers, citing intense media pressure and potential grudges from within SASR ranks fractured by the Brereton Inquiry's exposure of systemic issues like "throwdowns" (planting weapons on victims). Skepticism is fueled by his Victoria Cross heroism and claims of a "witch hunt," with some witnesses reportedly subpoenaed reluctantly.7 Trust stems from multiple firsthand SASR accounts corroborated in court, plus physical evidence like the USBs, amid Australia's push for accountability post-Brereton (39 alleged unlawful killings by special forces). Transparency gaps include classified Brereton details and delayed prosecutions (17+ years), raising valid questions about why leadership allegedly ignored early reports.

STRONGEST SUPPORTING ARGUMENT
Roberts-Smith's ex-wife and family friend recovered buried USB sticks in 2018 containing his texts directing the deletion of incriminating photos of a victim's prosthetic leg (Ali Jan, allegedly machine-gunned in 2009), which were tendered in his 2021 defamation trial and corroborated other evidence.1 Over 20 SASR comrades, including those who served on his patrols, testified to witnessing him commit or order murders, such as kicking a prosthetic-legged prisoner off a cliff at Whiskey 108 (2012) and executing others; Justice Besanko ruled these accounts credible on the balance of probabilities in June 2023, leading to his failed appeal (May 2025) and war crimes charges (April 2026).24

STRONGEST COUNTERARGUMENT
Some SASR witnesses were subpoenaed and expressed reluctance to testify, with Roberts-Smith's team arguing personal animosities or media influence tainted their accounts; no forensic evidence (e.g., DNA, ballistics) directly links him to the deaths, relying instead on memories from high-stress combat 15+ years prior.7 The USB texts reference deletions but do not explicitly admit crimes, and the defamation standard was civil (balance of probabilities), not criminal (beyond reasonable doubt), leaving room for his denials pending trial.

BOTTOM LINE
Both claims are true: Roberts-Smith's ex-wife provided incriminating USB evidence from their family property, and numerous SASR comrades testified against him detailing alleged murders. Courts have validated this evidence, leading to his 2026 war crimes charges.

5. CREDIBILITY — 9/10
6. EVIDENCE — 9/10
7. BIAS — CENTER-LEFT
8. CATEGORY — International