• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Australia’s most decorated living war veteran

catsmate

No longer the 1
catsmate
Joined
Apr 9, 2007
Messages
34,767
The appeal by "Australia’s most decorated living war veteran", Ben Roberts-Smith, against his defeat in a libel action against newspaper articles accusing him of a range of war crimes including murder, has been unanimously rejected.

In 2023 a judge ruled that the accusations were substantially and that Roberts-Smith was responsible for four of the six unlawful deaths he had been accused of.
He has never faced criminal charges.

Call for him to be stripped of his Victoria Cross remain unanswered.

Roberts-Smith has been financially supported by Australian billionaire Kerry Stokes whose media business Seven West Media is a rival of Nine Entertainment that published the alleged libellous articles.
 
I was looking for a thread about this, so thanks for opening.

www.bbc.com

Ben Roberts-Smith: Top soldier loses war crimes defamation case appeal

Ben Roberts-Smith says he now intends to appeal the landmark judgement in the High Court.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com

Justice Besanko’s ruling, which I listened to in its entirety, was razor sharp and irrefutable. When I heard BRS was appealing I thought he was a fool, and I was right. He is now considering an appeal to the High Court (which isn’t a right and needs very good reasons), but I can’t believe that Stokes will keep his wallet open indefinitely. And I don’t believe he will be given leave to appeal.

The thing that needs accelerating is murder charges against him. This has been sitting in the Department of Defence for a long time. Even though they should not be delaying this process because of a defamation action, I understand why this has happened.

What must happen now, regardless of a High Court appeal, is for his Victoria Cross to be rescinded and his display in the Australian War Memorial be removed.

A great, but really easy, decision.
 
Further to the last post, the bar to appeal to the High Court is very high:

“To be granted special leave to appeal, the applicant must convince the Court that the case raises a question of public or legal importance that is significant enough to warrant the attention of the High Court. The precise criteria for this is detailed in Section 35A of the Judiciary Act.”

I cannot see how any defamation action could meet this test, let alone one which has been so comprehensively demolished.

Naturally news reports have simply said that BRS plans to appeal. Yeah, and I plan to win the US Masters Golf…..
 
Last edited:
arthwollipot said:
From memory, the label mentions the allegations of war crimes but says that they are unproven.
Click to expand...
Well, now proven on the balance of probability. The War Memorial is not a court of law, and should accept that BRS should be put in the rubbish bin.
 
catsmate said:
He has never faced criminal charges.

Call for him to be stripped of his Victoria Cross remain unanswered.
Click to expand...
I think it's a national shame that these haven't happened. Though maybe the second can only happen after the first.
 
lionking said:
Nobody has been stripped of a VC since 1908, but times move on. His guilt is beyond doubt now.
Click to expand...
And given the relatively trivial offences for which the medals were previously forfeited, I think murder and conspiracy while serving should suffice.
However that is Charles' decision.
 
The story is behind a paywall, but the Age has reported that investigators have more witnesses who can testify against BRS, more murders he was involved with and previously unseen film of him drinking from the prosthetic leg of a man he murdered. Justice is closing in.
 
In related news, while the murderer Roberts-Smith hasn't even been prosecuted,the Australian army whistleblower David McBride, who leaked allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan to the media will probably be going to jail. He lost a court bid to have his five year prison sentence reduced on Wednesday.
 
catsmate said:
In related news, while the murderer Roberts-Smith hasn't even been prosecuted,the Australian army whistleblower David McBride, who leaked allegations of Australian war crimes in Afghanistan to the media will probably be going to jail. He lost a court bid to have his five year prison sentence reduced on Wednesday.
Click to expand...
McBride is a proven serial liar and is heading where he belongs. I believe I opened a thread about him some time ago. I was initially taken in by his lies, but he has been totally discredited.
 
Last edited:
Sorry about that.

I can’t post a link because paywall, but the noose is tightening on BRS.

“The elite anti-war crimes agency probing the involvement of ex-SAS soldiers in executions in Afghanistan conducted surprise raids in Perth on Wednesday as part of its ongoing investigations.”
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom