Ben Roberts-Smith formally charged with war crimes of murder

He was once lauded for his war heroics, awarded a Victoria Cross - and even named father of the year.

But Ben Roberts-Smith has spent his first night in a police cell after the former SAS soldier was charged with five counts of the war crime of murder - following a joint investigation between Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator.

Ben Roberts-Smith has always maintained his innocence.

• GUEST: Professor Emily Crawford, international law expert, Deputy Head of School and Dean of the University of Sydney's Law School.