Five-year AFP inquiry into Roberts-Smith collapses

A five-year inquiry into Ben Roberts-Smith’s alleged involvement in the killing of three Afghan captives has collapsed.

The Australian Federal Police inquiry crumbled after Commonwealth prosecutors determined investigators may have unwittingly be compromised by the use of information gathered by the Brereton inquiry — a separate probe which ran from 2016 to 2020 and used coercive powers to question military personnel.

A new taskforce has been set up to investigate the alleged executions.

Press PLAY below to hear Nick McKenzie explaining why the inquiry has collapsed + what will happen now

Investigative journalist at The Age, Nick McKenzie, says it’s “a significant setback”.

“That’s five years gone, five years of trauma for witnesses,” he told Ross and Russel.

“I think it’s unfair for Roberts-Smith … Everybody is entitled to an expeditious justice process.”

Image: Sam Mooy/Getty Images