Ben Roberts-Smith a mentor to Zachary Rolfe, the NT police officer cleared of murder

Zachary Rolfe and his mother, Debbie Rolfe, who told the Roberts-Smith trial: ‘Ben has been very kind and helpful towards Zach, with Ben having acted as a mentor to him.’ Photograph: Aaron Bunch/AAP

The former SAS soldier Ben Roberts-Smith, who is facing allegations of war crimes, was a “mentor” to Zachary Rolfe, the Northern Territory police officer who was cleared on Friday of murdering Kumanjayi Walker.

The relationship between the two men, who have been at the centre of separate trials that have dominated the media for more than a month, is detailed in a statement by Rolfe’s mother, Debbie, submitted to court as part of Roberts-Smith’s case.