The aftermath of Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation case in Australia.

1 min read
Source: BBC
The aftermath of Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation case in Australia.
Photo: BBC
TL;DR

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia's most-decorated living soldier, has lost a defamation case against three newspapers who reported claims that he had murdered unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan. The judge said in his civil case ruling that the newspapers' allegations that Mr Roberts-Smith was actually a war criminal, a liar and a bully were "substantially true". The case is the first time an Australian court has assessed accusations of war crimes by Australian forces - ahead of what many predict will be a wider reckoning in the years to come.

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