VC hero’s parents: son’s life ‘destroyed’ by war crimes allegations

The parents of Ben Roberts-Smith have expressed support for their son, on the eve of his defamation trial against Nine.

Ben Roberts-Smith parents, Len and Sue Roberts-Smith.

The parents of Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith say allegations of war crimes levelled against the Afghanistan veteran have destroyed his life and “affected us every day for the last several years”.

Hearings in the long-awaited defamation proceedings brought by Mr Roberts-Smith against the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age will begin in Sydney on Monday, with the former soldier alleging the newspapers falsely reported he was a war criminal who broke “moral and legal rules”.

Nine Entertainment, the publisher, is arguing it is true that Mr Roberts-Smith broke moral rules, the law, is a bully and is “a person not deserving of (his) good reputation”.

Arriving in Sydney ahead of the hearings, Mr Roberts-Smith’s parents Len and Sue Roberts-Smith said they “never expected that our son would be unfairly attacked in this manner after he served his country in Afghanistan with distinction”.

Ben Roberts-Smith at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange

“It is a relief that Ben’s legal team have finally been able to get his case before the Federal Court,” the family said in a statement.

“It will now be for the judge to hear the evidence and deliver judgment in due course.”

Len Roberts-Smith, a former West Australian Supreme Court judge, also served in the military and was for a time the judge advocate general for the Australian Defence Force.

“We love and care for him like every parent loves and cares for their child,” the family statement reads.

The high stakes trial is expected to last more than 10 weeks and cost millions of dollars in legal fees, and will call dozens of witnesses – many of them former or serving SAS troops as well as Afghan nationals via video link.

Mr Roberts-Smith’s ex-wife, Emma Roberts, is also expected to give evidence for the newspapers, with the former soldier filing court proceedings against her last week accusing her of sharing his confidential emails.