Ben Roberts-Smith slams ‘untrue and defamatory’ war crime allegation

Australia’s most decorated soldier has rubbished Nine newspapers over “untrue and defamatory” claims about him, saying it is time they produced evidence of war crimes or “admit they have none” after a series of reports in the past week.

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Australia’s most decorated soldier has slammed Nine newspapers over “untrue and defamatory” claims about him, saying it is time they produced evidence of war crimes or “admit they have none”.

The stunning rebuke from Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith was prompted by a series of reports over the past week, including claims the Australian Federal Police have begun a new investigation into him.

Ben Roberts-Smith is Australia’s most decorated soldier. Picture: Sean Davey

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing both publications over reports claiming he was implicated in war crimes.

“I have put my family name and medals on the line to sue Nine and restore my reputation,” Mr Roberts-Smith said. “Nine has accused me of murder. Frankly, it is time … to put up that evidence or admit they have none.”

Ben Roberts-Smith in 2011 at the 60th anniversary of the Battle of Kapyong fought during the Korean War.

He added he was not seeking the confidential sources of stories about his time in ­Afghanistan, as The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age have claimed.

“The truth is that Nine has already served outlines of evidence from named individuals who are current and former SASR soldiers whom Nine asserts will prove the serious allegations they have made against me,” he said.

Mr Roberts-Smith said Nine was “panicked” by ­reports in The Australian on Saturday that highlighted what the VC recipient said were “serious deficiencies in their purported evidence”.

The Australian reported that an Afghan National Army soldier Nine claimed was present when an alleged war crime was committed was not there and had left working with the Australian SAS unit at least a month before.

It was also reported Mr Roberts-Smith shot an unarmed man but his legal team said the man was a Taliban soldier and has indicated there is photographic evidence that he was carrying detonators and an AK47 which was pierced by Mr Roberts-Smith’s weapon.

Mr Roberts-Smith was a special guest at The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heros Summit at the Parliament House of NSW. Picture: Toby Zerna

On Monday, The Sydney Morning Herald published an article detailing allegations Mr Roberts-Smith was implicated in the summary ­execution of an Afghan man at a compound in southern ­Afghanistan in 2009, which Mr Roberts-Smith denies.

They claim the new inquiry will be looking into the alleged execution of the man, who was confronted by the SAS during an operation in the village of Kakarak on Easter Sunday 2009 while Mr Roberts-Smith was deputy commander on one of these patrols.