12 Jul 2023

Australian war criminal appeals defamation after losing case

From Morning Report, 8:44 am on 12 July 2023

Australian war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith will appeal a major defamation case after losing against The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times.

Mr Roberts-Smith's defence was dismissed by the Federal Court last month after the judge found substantial truth to the allegations of four unlawful killings in Afghanistan and bullying another soldier.

The legal battle over three papers' stories published in 2018 has already racked up $35 million Australian dollars in defence costs.

ABC journalist Jamie McKinnel spoke to Corin Dann.