Australian soldier sues media over Afghan war crimes allegations

Ben Roberts-Smith

A defamation trial opened Monday pitting one of Australia's most decorated soldiers against three major newspapers that accused him of war crimes in Afghanistan. Ben Roberts-Smith, a former member of Australia's elite Special Air Services regiment, is suing the newspapers as well as individual journalists from all three over articles from 2018 that alleged he committed murder and other atrocities while serving in Afghanistan. The defendants, including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times, and Melbourne's The Age, will argue the reports were truthful, according to court documents. Australia's military and police are both investigating numerous war crimes alleged to have been committed by members of elite SAS soldiers in Afghanistan.