/ 28 July 2022

Finally, an end to the Roberts-Smith defamation trial

Image source: AAP
Image source: AAP

After a mammoth 13-month stretch and an estimated $25 million in legal fees, the defamation trial instigated by war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith against The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and Canberra Times wrapped up in Sydney yesterday. He says a series of ­reports published in 2018 are defamatory because they aired claims he committed war crimes while serving in Afghanistan – allegations he denies. Nine Entertainment (which owned the 3 papers) says the claims aren’t defamatory because they are true. The trial heard from 41 witnesses and was delayed for 6 months due to COVID. Roberts-Smith’s lawyers say his client is a victim of jealous colleagues who wanted to destroy his reputation, while the defence says some of the evidence Roberts-Smith gave during the trial is lies. And it’s not over yet – Justice Anthony Besanko is not expected to hand down his judgment for several months.

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