SAS man ‘buried evidence of war crimes in garden’

Police are investigating claims that Australia’s most decorated living soldier, who is facing an inquiry into alleged war crimes, buried sensitive defence records in his back garden. A parliamentary hearing was told that police were also treating as a ‘‘priority’’ an allegation that Ben Roberts-smith, a former special forces soldier whowas awarded the Medal for Gallantry and the Victoria Cross, attempted to intimidate awitness. RobertsSmith, 42, who left the army in 2013, denies hiding the files and threatening witnesses to stop them co-operating with an inquiry.