Australia’s most decorated living veteran, Ben Roberts-Smith, did not seek bail after facing war crime murder charges in a Sydney court.

He has been charged with two counts of war crime murder and three counts of aiding or abetting such crimes related to incidents in Afghanistan.

The allegations stem from a 2020 military report that found evidence Australian special forces unlawfully killed civilians and prisoners.

Prosecutors say Roberts-Smith either carried out or ordered the killings of five Afghan men between 2009 and 2012, the AP has reported.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.