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The Latest Breaking News from Anthony Besanko

Australian Defence Force must ensure the findings against Ben Roberts-Smith are not the end of the story

On Thursday, Justice Anthony Besanko of the Federal Court dismissed defamation proceedings brought by former Special Air Service soldier Ben Roberts-Smith against several Australian news outlets.

The Conversation · Jun 2, 2023

From 'Australian hero' to 'disgracing' his country — Ben Roberts-Smith's fall from grace

Once a hero to politicians and civilians alike, a court found the 44-year-old's reputation is now so lowered that two unproven allegations of battlefield murder weren't enough to defame him.

ABC News · Jun 2, 2023

Nine newspapers’ truth defence put the focus on Ben Roberts-Smith’s reputation. It worked

Once a defamation trial begins, it is not possible for the plaintiff to control what may come out in court, as Victoria Cross winner learned

The Guardian - AU · Jun 2, 2023

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read the most diverse news in one place.

Ben Roberts-Smith resigns from Seven as war crimes judgement reverberates around globe

Ben Roberts-Smith resigns from his job at Seven West Media, as the company's billionaire chairman Kerry Stokes says the imputations found to be true in yesterday's crushing court judgement do "not accord with the man I know".

ABC News · Jun 2, 2023

PM declines to comment on Roberts-Smith ruling – as it happened

This blog is now closed

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

Madonna King: Sorry end to hero in case that divided an army

We should all feel a bit sad because this sorry saga will be etched into our history as period that divided our army.

The New Daily · Jun 1, 2023

What comes next for war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith after his defamation case was dismissed?

Ben Roberts-Smith has lost one of the most expensive defamation trials in Australia, and along with it his reputation. There are other factors that now need to be considered too.

ABC News · Jun 1, 2023

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Ben Roberts-Smith: calls for uniform to be removed from Australian War Memorial display

Greens say removal would be ‘first step in correcting the official record’ after federal court dismisses defamation case

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

Australia’s most decorated living soldier committed war crimes, judge rules in defamation case

Victoria Cross recipient loses civil defamation case as judge finds a number of murder allegations by newspapers ‘substantially true’

The Independent UK · Jun 1, 2023

The man who wasn’t there: Ben Roberts-Smith misses his day of reckoning

On the day a judge ruled the Victoria Cross winner had lost his defamation case and been proven to be a war criminal, Roberts-Smith didn’t turn up to court

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

Afghan war veteran 'shot prisoner dead and kept prosthetic leg to drink beer'

A federal court judge found that articles published claiming that Ben Roberts-Smith had unlawfully killed Afghan prisoners and "bullied and harassed" Afghan civilians were "substantially true"

Daily Mirror · Jun 1, 2023

Ben Roberts-Smith: the murders and war crimes at the heart of a seismic defamation battle

Judge found the newspapers had proven their defence of substantial truth on allegations of a murder and two executions

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

'Dismissed': legal experts explain the judgment in the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case

Today, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko handed down his long-awaited judgment in the defamation case that Ben Roberts-Smith, Australia’s most decorated living former SAS soldier, brought against the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times.

The Conversation · Jun 1, 2023

What did Ben Roberts-Smith do? This is what his civil case found

Justice Anthony Besanko's full reasons for his judgement are yet to be released, but today he outlined the serious allegations Nine's lawyers had proved the "substantial truth" of.

ABC News · Jun 1, 2023

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Al Jazeera · Jun 1, 2023

Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith loses war crimes suit

Ben Roberts-Smith had sued for defamation after newspapers reported he had murdered civilians in Afghanistan.

The Conversation · Jun 1, 2023

A win for the press, a big loss for Ben Roberts-Smith: what does this judgment tell us about defamation law?

At the heart of the spectacular defamation trial brought by decorated Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith were two key questions.

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

The Ben Roberts-Smith defamation judgment: read Justice Anthony Besanko’s full summary

In the federal court of Australia the judge dismissed the Victoria Cross recipient’s case against three newspapers who accused him of war crimes

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

Ben Roberts-Smith loses defamation case, with judge finding former SAS soldier committed war crimes

Justice Anthony Besanko found newspapers established substantial or contextual truth of allegations of murders of unarmed civilians in Afghanistan

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ABC News · Jun 1, 2023

As it happened: Ben Roberts-Smith's major court loss, costs will 'follow inevitably'

Justice Anthony Besanko delivers a devastating blow to war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith, who had been suing three newspapers and three journalists for defamation over articles alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan. This is how it unfolded

The Guardian - AU · Jun 1, 2023

Judge hands down defamation findings – as it happened

This blog is now closed.

ABC News · May 31, 2023

Decorated soldier Ben Roberts-Smith to learn fate today, five years after launching defamation battle

The Victoria Cross recipient sued the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times and three journalists in the Federal Court over a series of articles published in 2018. Today Justice Anthony Besanko will deliver his judgement.

The Guardian - AU · May 31, 2023

Judgment day: Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial to conclude with dramatic finale

One of the most costly trials held in Australia will conclude when the verdict is delivered on Thursday afternoon, with significant implications for the media and the SAS regiment

The Guardian - AU · May 31, 2023

Australia’s trial of the century: defamation case pitting the media against Victoria Cross soldier

Three newspapers accused Ben Roberts-Smith, recipient of Australia’s highest military honour, of war crimes – now the five-year court case is coming to an end

The Guardian - AU · May 30, 2023

Ben Roberts-Smith: the explosive allegations of war crimes at the heart of defamation case

The Victoria Cross recipient claims a series of news stories defamed him but the newspapers defended their reporting as true. As a verdict looms, we look at the key details of the case

The Guardian - AU · Jul 27, 2022

Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial laid bare the brutal reality of Australia’s decades-long war in Afghanistan – now the ex-soldier awaits judgment

While costs of about $25m and possibly millions in damages are at stake, the trial also has existential implications for Australian journalism

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