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Introducing Ben Roberts-Smith v the media

This article is more than 2 years old

Australia’s most decorated living soldier, Ben Roberts-Smith, is suing three of the country’s most trusted newspapers for defamation over articles he says falsely accuse him of war crimes. Whatever the outcome, the ramifications will be immense for public interest journalism, Australia’s military and the man venerated as a modern-day war hero

For 12 months, Guardian Australia reporter Ben Doherty sat in Sydney’s federal court, covering the defamation case brought by Ben Roberts-Smith against three newspapers. Roberts-Smith says they published articles falsely accusing him of war crimes. The newspapers are backing their investigative journalists.

While the case has centred upon the alleged defamation of Australia’s most decorated Afghanistan war veteran, on his actions and the people in his orbit, it has, too, shed an unprecedented light on the actions and culture of the Australian military overseas.

“The evidence has been confronting, violent, sometimes scandalous, and at times barely believable,” Doherty said of the case.

“But because we can’t play you what happens inside the federal court of Australia you haven’t been able to hear what I have … until now.”

You can find all episodes of Ben Roberts-Smith v the media here.

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Illustration: Guardian Design

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