Gina Rinehart fights back after losing his libel appeal against nine newspapers in a “ruthless attack” against Ben Roberts-Smith.
Decorated veteran Roberts-Smith failed to overturn his discovery of murdering four unarmed civilians during his deployment in Afghanistan.
Recipients of the Victoria Cross sued nine newspapers, and journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters slandered their reports in 2018, claiming he committed war crimes.
In 2023, Justice Anthony Besanko discovered a balance of probability in the murder of four civilians by Roberts-Smith.
Mr Roberts-Smith appealed the discovery and after a year of waiting, the entire federal court dismissed his appeal on Friday.
Billionaire mining tycoon Ms. Rinehart then showed up Roberts-Smith over the weekend.
She said in a statement that the court’s ruling was “made on Channel 9 by some people as something they might be all over the world”. Australian.
“This ruthless attack has not made the country better, as some journalists want to suggest that it has just weakened our Wehrmacht and has fought for our inadequate numbers to defend us,” Ms Rinehart said.
Gina Rinehart (pictured) says, “The relentless attack on Ben Roberts-Smith doesn’t make the country better
Mr Roberts-Smith (pictured) failed to overturn discovery of possible war crimes when he deployed in Afghanistan last week
“Many Patriots Australians asked that this brave and patriotic person risked his life in overseas missions sent by our government is fair.”
Ms Rinehart declined to say whether she had helped fund the case.
Mr Roberts-Smith said he plans to appeal Friday’s ruling in the High Court.
“I continue to maintain my innocence and deny these shockingly malicious allegations,” he said in a statement.
The decision clears the path for soldiers to pay tens of millions of dollars after the cost of defamation lawsuits exceeds $25 million in 2023.
Mr Roberts-Smith first stood out in 2011 after receiving the highest military honor of Australia, Victoria Cross, as he single-handedly protected his regular colleagues in Afghanistan.
Later, McKenzie, in an explosive 2018 report, received his reputation as Australia’s Father of the Year, saying that former SAS corporal was accomplice in war crimes.
Roberts-Smith’s machine gun pistol player, who then encouraged soldiers to use as a drinking boat, reportedly.
Mr. Roberts-Smith’s reputation was damaged by McKenzie’s explosive report in 2018
On the same day in 2009, Roberts-Smith allegedly ordered an elderly prisoner to execute “blood” in a compound known as Whiskey 108.
The former Special Forces soldier was accused of kicking a handcuffed prisoner on a cliff in Dalwan Village, then dragging him to a stream and ordering him to execute on September 11, 2012.
According to reports from nine people, another prisoner was shot and killed after Mr Roberts-Smith ordered the discovery of a weapon cache in the village of cinartu.
The findings of Justice Bankoko’s investigation – Friday – were made based on probability balance. Roberts-Smith has not been charged yet.
Federal Court Justices Nye Perram, Anna Katzmann and Geoffrey Kennett also found on Friday that McKenzie was associated with a secret recording of him and a woman known as a 17-year-old in the initial trial.
17 people were once the mistress of Mr. Roberts-Smith and accused him of beating her in the head after his duties at the Parliament House, which Justice Anthony Besanko found was not proven.
Mr. McKenzie was recorded in early 2021, telling the 17th man, Roberts-Smith’s estranged wife Emma and her friend Danielle Scott, “actively introduce us to his legal strategies to show you respect you.”
“I shouldn’t tell you,” Mackenzie said in an 85-second audio clip. “I just violated my ethics.”
Mr Roberts-Smith (photo with Queen Elizabeth II) was awarded Australia’s highest military honor, Victoria Cross after his debut in 2011
Roberts-Smith’s lawyer argued that Mr McKenzie received information about legal privileges, resulting in a judicial miscarriage.
Mr Mackenzie denied that he had received any material he knew belonged to privilege and accepted his evidence unanimously on Friday.
Following the decision, Hachette Australia announced that it would release an updated version of Mr McKenzie’s book on Australia’s actions in Afghanistan.
The publisher said the book will include “exclusive new material on appeal (Mr. Roberts Smith), ongoing consequences, and emotional and professional losses in the case.”
