Lauded Australian veteran: Jealousy fueled Afghan defamation

Australia’s most decorated living war veteran has begun a defamation trial against three Australian newspapers that he alleges depicted him as a criminal who broke rules of military engagement in Afghanistan

SYDNEY -- Australia’s most decorated living war veteran on Monday began a defamation trial against three Australian newspapers that he alleges depicted him as a criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement in Afghanistan. Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith is suing The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times in the Federal Court in Sydney over articles published in 2018. The former Special Air Service Regiment corporal has rejected all allegations against him while Nine Entertainment, which owned all three newspapers in 2018, is relying on truth as its defense. Roberts-Smith’s lawyer Bruce McClintock described his 42-year-old client as a courageous, highly organized and disciplined leader who risked his life in battle in line with the SAS motto of “Who Dares Wins” during tours between 2009 and 2012.