Godfather of Ben Roberts-Smith’s child backs Victoria Cross recipient saying Nine was wrong on crucial detail

The godfather of Ben Roberts-Smith’s child has backed up the Victoria Cross recipient saying Nine was wrong on a crucial detail.

The Godfather of Ben Roberts-Smith’s child has broken down in tears recounting the harrowing moments his SAS troop came under fire in the fierce battle that saw Mr Roberts-Smith awarded the Victoria Cross.

The senior soldier has also backed Mr Roberts-Smith’s evidence that there were no men inside a Taliban tunnel, contradicting crucial claims by Nine newspapers.

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine newspapers over a series of articles claiming he killed unarmed, detained Afghans in execution style killings while deployed with the SAS. He vehemently denies the allegations.

Nine insists the allegations are true and has called SAS witnesses who said two Afghans were detained after they were found hiding in a tunnel beneath a Taliban base in a 2009 mission.

The two men, Nine allege, were executed — the first machine gunned by Mr Roberts-Smith and the second shot in the head by another SAS soldier on Mr Roberts-Smith’s orders.

Mr Roberts-Smith said the two Afghans were killed in the heat of battle and insisted no one was found inside the tunnel of the Taliban base known as Whiskey 108.

Another SAS soldier has denied Nine newspapers’ claims that two men were found hiding in a tunnel during a 2009 raid.

A senior and still serving SAS soldier, known as Person 29, told the court he discovered the tunnel in a farmyard area of Whiskey 108.

Person 29 said Mr Roberts-Smith volunteered to go down the tunnel but, because of his size, the SAS instead sent a shorter soldier known as Person 35.

“Did any fighting aged males come out of the tunnel?” Mr Roberts-Smith’s barrister Arthur Moses SC asked on Wednesday.

“No,” Person 29 responded.

Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine after they accused him of killing detained Afghans known as PUCS, or Persons Under Confinement. Picture: AAP

Person 29 said he heard about two enemies killed in action come over the radio, but that was while the SAS searched the tunnel.

Person 35, in his own evidence last week, said there was no one hiding in the tunnel.

Person 29 said the first he heard about a tunnel execution was when Nine newspapers published the allegations.

The senior, who is godfather to one of Mr Roberts-Smith’s children, was also present a year later when the SAS battled through the town of Tizak.

He broke down in tears describing Taliban rounds striking the helicopter as he flew into the battle.

“There were several hits to the aircraft. I was later informed that the other… I’m sorry, Your Honour. Just give me 10 seconds to collect myself,” Person 29 said.

Mr Roberts-Smith shortly before the 2010 offensive that saw him awarded the Victoria Cross.

Tizak is significant because Mr Roberts-Smith stormed Taliban machine gun nests that had pinned his squadmates down.

He faced near-certain death as he braved the machine guns and killed the gunners.

Mr Roberts-Smith became a national hero after the battle when he was awarded the top military honour, the Victoria Cross.

In his own evidence last year, Mr Roberts-Smith said the VC put a target on his back from jealous soldiers.

SAS soldiers, called by Nine, agreed they harboured questions, misgivings and anger about Mr Roberts-Smith’s commendation.

The trial continues.