Source : Perth Now news
Ben Roberts-Smith’s partner has posted a gushing video to social media a day after the former war hero announced his new business venture.
Mr Roberts-Smith and Sarah Matulin on Sunday launched a workout supplements business that they hope will be a source of income after the Victoria Cross recipient was charged with five counts of war crime murder.
Promotional videos show Mr Roberts-Smith wearing a shirt with a picture of him being arrested by federal police at Sydney Airport earlier this year.
The 47-year-old’s partner on Monday night posted a video with dozens of photos and clips of Mr Roberts-Smith and discussed their entrepreneurial motivations.
Ms Matulin said the pair wanted to build a business for financial stability.
“Working for someone else was never going to be sustainable. Any employer risked media pressure simply for giving you a job. So we had to build something of our own,” she posted
“But then came the *what ifs* What if the media backlash was too much? What if we gave it everything, only to fail?
“And the biggest WHAT IF … what if this witch hunt ended in the unthinkable?”
The former SAS member faces five counts of war crime murder related to alleged unlawful killings in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. He has yet to enter pleas to any of the charges.
He has long maintained his innocence in relation to the allegations, which were the subject of an unsuccessful Federal Court defamation suit against Nine Newspapers.
Any potential criminal trial could take years. The matter is next scheduled to be called in court in December, and three days of non-publication and suppression order hearings are pencilled in for August 2027.
Mr Roberts-Smith and Ms Matulin considered trying to generate an income for themselves overseas, she said in the post.
“We waited. Sought legal advice. Explored opportunities overseas beyond the Australian media’s reach,” Ms Matulin said.
“Finally, we decided to take the leap.
“And then the unthinkable happened. So here we are.
“I don’t know how I’ll handle the media onslaught or the nasty comments. But I know we have each other. And I’ll be damned if we spend another two, five or 10 years wondering *what if* while the court process takes its course.”
She concedes a supplements business “might not be groundbreaking” but “was born from the belief that even when the cards are stacked against you, you give it a go”.
“Who knows where it’ll take us? You’ve got to start somewhere,” Ms Matulin said.
“You back yourself when the world is betting against you. It’s built for the underdog.
“My love, you’ve never given up. Your resilience and resolve, the way you keep getting back up when I know how heavy it feels, inspire me.”
The written tribute accompanied a slide show of photos and clips of the couple together on holidays, Mr Roberts-Smith sleeping, pulling silly faces or with various cartoon camera filters over his face.
“The world sees your stoic side. I’m lucky enough to see the silly one. The man who makes me laugh when there’s little for him to laugh about,” Ms Matulin said.
“The man that loves his girls fiercely, who is such a caring dad, partner, son and friend.”
