Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most-decorated living soldier, has been charged over serious allegations of committing war crimes in Afghanistan. The former soldier was arrested at Sydney airport on Tuesday and faces multiple counts relating to the murder of unarmed detainees between 2009 and 2012.

This arrest follows a high-profile defamation trial which revealed actions that led to a judgment that found Roberts-Smith had indeed killed unarmed civilians.

Roberts-Smith, who has consistently denied all wrongdoing, branded the allegations as egregious and spiteful. The civil trial was the first time such serious claims against Australian forces have ever been examined in court.

Commissioner Krissy Barrett confirmed in a press conference that he faces serious charges that include one count of murder, one count of jointly commissioning murder, and three counts of aiding and abetting murder.

The case has pivotal implications, as it arises from the Brereton Report, which found credible evidence of unlawful killings by elite Australian soldiers.

Roberts-Smith’s legal battle lasted seven years and cost millions, portraying a saga that captivated Australia as it challenged notions of military heroism. The Federal Court determined he participated in several unlawful killings, a finding upheld upon appeal.

As this case unfolds, it could redefine the narrative surrounding Australia’s military conduct in Afghanistan and influence public perception of its veterans.