The Age and the Herald have won the libel case of the century. These were always stories that deserved to be told. It should not have required one of the most expensive trials in the nation’s history to establish that.
The wheels of justice and public debate have continued to grind beyond the confines of the landmark Ben Roberts-Smith case – and medals,reputations and,potentially,former soldiers’ freedom are at stake.
Australia’s most decorated living soldier,Victoria Cross and Medal of Gallantry winner Ben Roberts-Smith,has lost a landmark defamation case.
Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell was warned the Brereton report could trigger a law that prevents the US military working with units linked to “gross violations of human rights”.
Justice Anthony Besanko will deliver his decision at 2.15pm in Sydney on Thursday.
Angus Campbell defended his efforts to strip military awards and accused Jacqui Lambie and other critics of behaving like sharks in a feeding frenzy.
It is the multimillion-dollar defamation battle billed as a test of public interest journalism and a quasi war crimes investigation. The decision is imminent.
General Angus Campbell says he will not gloss over the Defence Force’s failings as he prepares for more prosecutions for alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
A former special forces soldier has been arrested in NSW and charged with war crimes in Afghanistan.
The ramping up of investigations comes as former special forces soldiers and their supporters have mounted an online campaign to smear those they suspect of co-operating with investigators.
The senior officer was “voluntarily” discharged in recent weeks after falling out with the Chief of the Defence Force.