Australia’s most decorated living solider ‘committed war crimes’, court rules as he loses civil defamation case

Ben Roberts-Smith arrives at the Federal Court in Sydney, on June 9, 2021. Australia’s most decorated living war veteran, Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith, committed a slew of war crimes while in Afghanistan including the unlawful killings of unarmed prisoners, a judge ruled on Thursday, June 1, 2023. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft, File)

Chris Stevenson
© UK Independent

Australia’s most decorated living soldier committed war crimes – including murders – while serving with the country’s Special Air Service (SAS) in Afghanistan, a judge has ruled.

Handing down a judgment in a historic defamation case brought by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith against three newspapers that had run articles alleging he killed unnamed prisoners, Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko said four of six murder allegations were substantially true. It marks the end to a case that has lifted the veil of secrecy over the elite SAS.