Ben Roberts-Smith executed unarmed Afghan civilian on ground, serving SAS soldier tells court

Ben Roberts-Smith has said he never ordered the man to be shot and allegations he had were ‘completely false’. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Ben Roberts-Smith shot dead an unarmed civilian outside a compound in Afghanistan – firing his machine-gun into the back of the man lying on the ground – one of his former SAS comrades has told the federal court.

Minutes earlier, the court was told, Roberts-Smith had allegedly ordered a subordinate soldier to execute an elderly man.