War veteran roberts-smith remains in custody amid murder charges

Ben Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient and former Australian Special Air Service Regiment (SAR) soldier, will stay in Sydney's Silverwater Correctional Complex after his initial court appearance following murder charges. The 47-year-old faces five counts of killing unarmed Afghan civilians during his time in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Detailed investigation underway

Roberts-Smith was not required to appear in court virtually on Wednesday, with his defense lawyer Jordan Portokalli seeking an in-person listing for later in the day. Portokalli acknowledged the likelihood of a long wait, saying they'd ask the Chief Magistrate for a mention hearing