Roberts-Smith says defamation case cost Stokes over $30 million
War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith revealed the failed defamation case cost billionaire Kerry Stokes upwards of $30 million.
Ben Roberts-Smith told 2GB radio he does not regret a single thing about his military career. Roberts-Smith will fight five war crime murder charges.
The charges relate to his Special Air Service work in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2012. The Victoria Cross recipient says he always followed the rules of engagement.
Prosecutors say the victims were unarmed Afghan nationals. They were shot by Roberts-Smith or soldiers under his command.
Roberts-Smith's defamation case against Nine newspapers collapsed. A Federal Court found the allegations about his role in detainee deaths were substantially true.
Roberts-Smith said the failed case cost billionaire Kerry Stokes, who paid for it, upwards of $30 million. His criminal trial may be more than five years away.
- Over $30 million
- Cost to Stokes
- Five counts of murder
- War crime charges
- Afghanistan 2009 to 2012
- Service period
- December
- Court date
Why it mattersThe case raises questions about accountability for military conduct. It shows the price of major legal disputes over war crimes allegations.
AustraliaA prominent Australian war veteran's criminal trial will test the nation's commitment to investigating alleged violations of the laws of war by military personnel.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 4 h ago
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