New blow for Australia war veteran after dismissal of defamation case

By Anadolu staff

The Australian War Memorial (AWM) installed a plaque with a display related to a recent judgment in a defamation case involving Ben Roberts-Smith that is related to his alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, media reports said Friday.

The AWM said it added context and a revised text panel acknowledging the status of the defamation case, ABC News reported.

The memorial said a Federal Court judge determined there was "substantial truth" to allegations that Roberts-Smith had been involved and complicit in unlawful killings in Afghanistan.

The developments came after lawmakers demanded the removal of the display of the war veteran from the AWM after a court ruling.

A court in June dismissed the defamation suit against Australian newspapers, involving The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times and three journalists after Judge Anthony Besanko found the publications had "proven several of the key allegations" of war crimes, including that Roberts-Smith was involved in the killing of multiple unarmed Afghan civilians.

Victoria Cross filed a case against Roberts-Smith in Federal Court after a series of stories published in 2018 alleged the soldier committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith described the outcome as "terrible" and it is the "incorrect outcome."

His legal team later said Roberts-Smith is planning to file an appeal. He has not been charged with any offense, yet.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid