An SAS soldier has rejected what he called "ruthless and unwavering" bullying by Ben Roberts-Smith was actually just professional criticism, while giving evidence in the Federal Court.
Mr Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over reports that he committed war crimes and murders in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.
The Victoria Cross recipient vehemently denies those allegations and accusations of bullying.
But a former comrade - codenamed Person One - has this week given evidence that he had reported Mr Roberts-Smith to his superiors for a years-long campaign of "ruthless and unwavering aggression".
After a failed mission in June 2006, on Person One's first deployment to Afghanistan, Mr Roberts-Smith allegedly said if the man's performance didn't improve, he would "put a bullet in the back of (his) head".
Thereafter the sergeant told the court he had become concerned not only about the Taliban, but that he was looking "over my back," worrying about people in his own squadron.
On the small base where the two men came into contact "relatively often", Mr Roberts-Smiths bullying included spitting on the ground in front of Person One, slamming doors in his face, and hitting across the back of the head while he was driving, he said.
In another incident, Person One alleged Mr Roberts-Smith pushed him, saying "get out of my way c*** or I'll kill you".
Under cross-examination by Mr Roberts-Smith's barrister on Friday, Person One denied he had "fabricated" the claims after learning his comrades thought he was "no good" and had complained about his performance.
"The only way that you could you could deal, inside your own head, with the assessments about you ... was to come up with the allegation that you were bullied ... That's the case isn't it?" Bruce McClintock SC said.
"You couldn't confront the reality of your failings and you tried to blame them on other people, didn't you?
"That's incorrect," Person One replied.
Mr McClintock suggested his client had in fact said Person One could be shot by the enemy if his performance didn't improve.
"My client never said anything to you beyond if you don't improve, you're going to be in trouble out there and you'll be in danger. That's what he said isn't it?"
"No."
He argued it was "absurd" to characterise any of the things Mr Roberts-Smith had said as genuine death threats.
"You didn't believe for a second that my client was genuinely going to kill you," Mr McClintock said.
"Yes I did sir," Person One said.
"The answer you've just given is false, and you know it."
"I don't believe it is false ... He threatened me personally and ... not to my face but behind my back."
Mr Roberts-Smith categorically denied the accusations of bullying while giving evidence last year, saying Person One just wasn't a "very good soldier" who wanted to cover up his poor performance.
The trial continues on Monday.
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