Ben Roberts-Smith entitled to presumption of innocence but ‘none of us are above the law’, Andrew Hastie says | Ben Roberts-Smith

Andrew Hastie, a former Liberal MP and assistant defense minister, expressed his support for the presumption of innocence for Ben Roberts-Smith, who was recently charged with war crimes. Hastie acknowledged that while he served alongside Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan and had previously supported him, he believes it's crucial to allow the legal process to unfold fairly. Former Prime Minister John Howard echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law for all individuals. While some veterans have expressed resentment towards Hastie, he maintains that his role was limited to providing evidence in a defamation trial. Independent MP Bob Katter announced plans to introduce legislation protecting veteran identities and ensuring trials are presided over by combat soldiers.