Decorated Australian soldier loses war crimes defamation appeal

One of Australia's astir decorated soldiers connected Friday mislaid a ineligible bid to overturn bombshell tribunal findings that implicated him successful warfare crimes portion serving successful Afghanistan. Former SAS commandoBen Roberts-Smith has been warring to repair his tattered estimation since 2018, erstwhile newspapers unearthed allegations helium took portion successful the execution of unarmed Afghan prisoners.

His multi-million dollar bid to writer 3 Australian newspapers for defamation failed successful 2023, with a justice ruling the bulk of the journalists' claims were "substantially true". The 46-year-old suffered different setback connected Friday, erstwhile Australia's national tribunal dismissed his appeal. Justice Nye Perram withheld the reasons for the decision, saying determination were nationalist information implications the authorities indispensable see earlier they are released. A published summary said determination was capable grounds to enactment findings that Roberts-Smith had "murdered 4 Afghan men". Roberts-Smith argued successful his entreaty that the justice "erred" successful the mode helium assessed immoderate of the evidence. Perth-born Roberts-Smith had been Australia's astir celebrated and distinguished surviving soldier. He won the Victoria Cross -- Australia's highest subject honour -- for "conspicuous gallantry" successful Afghanistan portion connected the hunt for a elder Taliban commander.

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