Ben Roberts-Smith’s bail varied so alleged war criminal can attend Australian War Memorial opening

Ben Roberts-Smith also applied to move his home address in south-east Queensland, saying he wanted to be closer to family. Photograph: Bianca De Marchi/AAP View image in fullscreen Ben Roberts-Smith also applied to move his home address in south-east Queensland, saying he wanted to be closer to family. Photograph: Bianca De Marchi/AAP Ben Roberts-Smith’s bail varied so alleged war criminal can attend Australian War Memorial opening Former SAS soldier had been invited along with all other living Victoria Cross recipients, judge told Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has successfully varied his bail to attend the opening of the Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. However he has not been allowed to go to a military graduation parade and afterparty north of Sydney due to concerns he might interact with another alleged war criminal, Oliver Schulz, while there. Roberts-Smith, 47, was arrested in April and charged with murdering or ordering the murders of five unarmed detainees while deployed in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. In a statement in April, Roberts-Smith said he categorically denied all allegations against him and that he had “always acted within my values, within my training and within the rules of engagement”. He appeared before Sydney’s Downing Centre local court on Tuesday, when his lawyers applied to vary his bail. Judge Susan Horan permitted the former SAS soldier to visit the War Memorial for the opening of the Anzac Hall and Atrium on 23 June but barred him from discussing the criminal cases against himself or Schulz. Roberts-Smith had been invited along with all other living Victoria Cross recipients, the judge was told. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email Outside court, he told reporters it was “absolutely” appropriate he attend the opening as he had received the prestigious military award. Prosecutor Simon Buchen SC did not oppose his attendance at the War Memorial opening, nor the military parade to see a family friend graduate at Singleton army base northwest of Sydney on 26 June. However, Buchen said the war veteran should not attend an after-party held at a function centre in Newcastle because it was an uncontrolled event where alcohol would like be consumed. Horan denied his requests to attend either because of the risks he would communicate with Schulz, who has also been accused of unlawfully murdering an Afghan national while deployed there in 2012. Roberts-Smith also applied to move his home address in south-east Queensland, in part because he wanted to be closer to family. “Today is just about being able to see my [family] and moving back to where we actually live,” he told reporters outside court. “That’s what we’re focused on today.” The court was told Roberts-Smith had to lease out a new residence because his parents had sold their home and had to move back into the place in which he was currently living. His barrister, Slade