The Snitch: Ben Roberts-Smith supporters find a novel way to back disgraced war hero

What is the new battlefield for Ben Roberts-Smith supporters? Who wore a pair of $6000 heels to court? And who has a troubled cricketer been texting? The Snitch is here.

There’s nothing like a good bit of spite to keep life interesting. Which brings us to the supporters of ex soldier Ben Roberts-Smith.

Still smarting over BRS’s monster loss in his defamation case against Nine Newspapers after investigative reporters Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters called him a murderer, the soldiers are turning to a bit of low key retail activism to support him.

They’re not quite passing the hat around to cover the estimated tens of millions in legal costs BRS is up for after losing the case.

Instead, they’re opting for a more fiscally prudent way to stand with Ben.

They’re going into shops and hiding copies of the book Mr McKenzie wrote about the BRS affair.

Ben Roberts-Smith has a legion of supporters on the “We Stand With Ben Roberts-Smith” Facebook page. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Some of the troops are turning around every copy of the book on the shelves in the hope that no one will buy it because shoppers can’t see the cover.

They’re also posting videos and pictures about it to social media. So it’s become a thing.

There’s actually Facebook accounts dedicated to supporting BRS where they are posting about the practice.

Nick McKenzie’s book being turned around at a book store.

Some on the Facebook page suggested hiding the books under a shelf.

“I’ve seen a few posts where our loyal supporters are turning books around to deter buyers,” user Trav Holt wrote on one post.

But he also noted: “Good effort all around, but the retail staff will simply turn them back around. To be more effective, try and hide the books under a shelf so they never get sold.”

Leah Dawson posted that she “hid most of them” at the Big W in Booval Fair at Ipswich in Queensland.

Terry Joan Beer wrote “Did my bit today” and posted a photo of a bookshelf in a shop with all of the books turned around.

A SHOE IN

It is always recommended to dress in your best clobber if you have to appear in court to defend yourself against criminal charges.

It shows the magistrate or judge that you care and are an upstanding citizen.

So what do you reckon Magistrate Ian Guy thought of these kicks?

Fashion identity Deni Todorovic showed up to the Downing Centre Local Court in what we’re told was a grey $60 Target suit with flared pants. But he topped the outfit off with a pair of custom made bright purple, sky high, platform heels.

Deni Todorovic appearing in Sydney's Downing Centre Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

And the price? We’re told they set him back $6000.

A little pricier than the suit his lawyer, Paul McGirr, was wearing when he told the magistrate his client had “certainly done his homework” in terms of engaging with mental health treatment.

Todorovic was facing two charges of destroying property and another of entering private property without a lawful excuse.

It stemmed from an incident where Todorovic smashed a car windscreen and trashed a luxury hotel room in the Sydney CBD.

So did the shoes sway the Magistrate’s decision?

He didn’t say.

But after hearing the evidence, Mr Guy concluded that Todorovič “irresistibly” met the criteria for a dismissal of the charges on mental health grounds.

The magistrate dismissed the charges and ordered Todorovič to pay more than $525 to the owner of the damaged car.

MACGILL’S TEXT MATES

Prior to allegedly being kidnapped and then accused of facilitating a $300,000 cocaine deal, former Test bowler Stuart MacGill was tapping into his cricketing network to advance his lot in life.

Stuart MacGill has been on the phone to his former cricket mates. Picture: AFP

Steve Waugh wrote the foreword for MacGill’s book.

MacGill would frequently text high profile cricketers to seize on business opportunities or the like.

This included dropping text messages to Steve Smith asking the superstar to come down to his Neutral Bay restaurant for a meal and a drink.

Smith responded: “Cheers Stu. Sounds good mate.”

MacGill also had Steve Waugh writing the foreword for his book.

Waugh wrote several pages in biro and sent photos of his work to a very appreciative MacGill for approval.

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