Judge refuses to reveal 723 witness names in Roberts-Smith trial

A court has kept secret the names of 723 people in evidence against Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith. This makes it harder for him to prepare his defence.

Why it mattersDefence teams need to know who is testifying or giving evidence. This helps them mount an effective legal challenge. Hiding this many names can harm the fairness of the trial.

AustraliaThe way Australian courts handle witness protection in high-profile cases will affect how other trials balance security with the right to a fair defence.

✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 d ago