War hero or war criminal? Australia’s defamation trial of the century – podcast

Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living soldier, is seeking to defend his reputation against reports in three newspapers that he says falsely accuse him of being a war criminal. Ben Doherty reports In his closing submissions in Australia’s federal court in Sydney, the barrister of the country’s most decorated living soldier argued: “This trial, which has lasted over 100 days, has been called a great many things: the trial of the century, a proxy war crimes trial, and an attack on the freedom of the press. It is none of these. It is a case which has been brought because the respondents chose to defame Mr Roberts-Smith.” Ben Roberts-Smith is suing three Australian media companies for defamation, over reports he alleges wrongly portray him as a war criminal and murderer. The case has contained shocking details and extraordinary allegations. Continue reading...
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