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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Amanda Meade

Ben Roberts-Smith defamation verdict to end high-stakes battle between Australian media giants

Ben Roberts-Smith leaves the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney
The Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case has caused considerable animosity between Seven and Nine, who own the bulk of Australia’s media, alongside News Corp. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

The landmark Ben Roberts-Smith defamation judgment that will be handed down on Thursday is not only a high stakes battle between award-winning journalists and Australia’s most decorated soldier but also between two of Australia’s largest media companies.

Justice Anthony Besanko will deliver a verdict in Sydney on 1 June that is the culmination of a near five-year legal process and which is said to have cost the two sides close to $35m in legal fees alone.

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