Australian war veteran to appeal dismissal of defamation suit against newspapers, journalists

July 11, 2023

- Legal team of Victoria Cross recipient Roberts-Smith files notice of appeal in Federal Court following receiving extension to normal time frame

By Islamuddin Sajid

ANKARA (AA) – Australian war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith is planning to file an appeal against a court verdict last month that dismissed his case against media organizations and three journalists for their coverage of alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, local media said on Tuesday.

His legal team on Tuesday filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court, after receiving an extension to the normal time frame within which to launch it, ABC News reported.

Last month, a local court dismissed his defamation suit against Australian newspapers, involving The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Canberra Times, and three journalists, after Judge Anthony Besanko found that the dailies had "proven several of the key allegations" of war crimes, including that Roberts-Smith was involved in the killing of multiple unarmed Afghan civilians.

Victoria Cross recipient Roberts-Smith filed a case in the Federal Court after a series of stories published in 2018, alleging the veteran soldier committed war crimes in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012.

However, following the court verdict, Roberts-Smith described the outcome as "terrible" and said, "it is the incorrect outcome."