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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Ben Doherty

Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial: Andrew Hastie says he ‘is no longer proud’ of former comrade

Andrew Hastie Ben Roberts-Smith Smith SAS Afghanistan
Andrew Hastie
Assistant defence minister Andrew Hastie (pictured) has given evidence at the defamation trial of Ben Roberts-Smith in Sydney. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

Assistant defence minister Andrew Hastie has told a court that preserving the Special Air Service regiment requires “coming clean” on the mistakes of the past 15 years, as he declared he was no longer proud of Victorian Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith.

Hastie, a former captain in the SAS, told the federal court on Friday he had once revered Roberts-Smith – who is suing three newspapers for defamation – but now pitied him.

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