Ben Roberts-Smith’s reputation as an exceptional, decent and brave soldier was destroyed by a sustained media campaign alleging he was a war criminal, a judge has said.
War veteran Arthur Moses SC’s lawyer began winding up his case in the Federal Court on Monday, more than 100 days after he started proceedings against journalists and three bosses.
Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over 2018 reports claiming she committed war crimes in Afghanistan, including murder and acts of bullying and domestic violence.
The 43-year-old denies all allegations of wrongdoing, while the club leaders defend them as true.
