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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jun/15/ben-roberts-smith-says-defamation-case-defeat-was-a-terrible-outcome-as-he-returns-to-australia
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| Ben Roberts-Smith says defamation case defeat was a ‘terrible outcome’ as he returns to Australia | Ben Roberts-Smith says defamation case defeat was a ‘terrible outcome’ as he returns to Australia |
| (7 days later) | |
| Former SAS corporal arrives in Perth from New Zealand and comments for first time on judgment in civil case that found on the balance of probabilities he had committed war crimes | Former SAS corporal arrives in Perth from New Zealand and comments for first time on judgment in civil case that found on the balance of probabilities he had committed war crimes |
| The disgraced former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has called a federal court civil judgment against him that found he committed war crimes a “terrible outcome” as he flew back into Australia. | The disgraced former soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has called a federal court civil judgment against him that found he committed war crimes a “terrible outcome” as he flew back into Australia. |
| The former SAS corporal, a recipient of the Victoria Cross and Australia’s most decorated living soldier, flew into Perth from New Zealand. | The former SAS corporal, a recipient of the Victoria Cross and Australia’s most decorated living soldier, flew into Perth from New Zealand. |
| Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully sued the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and Canberra Times for defamation. Justice Anthony Besanko found the newspapers’ allegations Roberts-Smith murdered civilians and bullied comrades during his deployments to Afghanistan were substantially true. The findings are not a finding of criminal guilt, but the allegations were found proven to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities. | Roberts-Smith unsuccessfully sued the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and Canberra Times for defamation. Justice Anthony Besanko found the newspapers’ allegations Roberts-Smith murdered civilians and bullied comrades during his deployments to Afghanistan were substantially true. The findings are not a finding of criminal guilt, but the allegations were found proven to the civil standard of the balance of probabilities. |
| Roberts-Smith was not in court to hear the judgment against him. | Roberts-Smith was not in court to hear the judgment against him. |
| Speaking to Channel Nine at Perth airport, he said he was “devastated with the result”. | Speaking to Channel Nine at Perth airport, he said he was “devastated with the result”. |
| “It’s a terrible outcome and it’s the incorrect outcome,” he said. | “It’s a terrible outcome and it’s the incorrect outcome,” he said. |
| “We will look at it and consider whether or not we need to file an appeal but there’s not much more I can say about it. | “We will look at it and consider whether or not we need to file an appeal but there’s not much more I can say about it. |
| “We’ll just have to work through it and I’ll take the advice as it comes.” | “We’ll just have to work through it and I’ll take the advice as it comes.” |
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| Roberts-Smith said he was proud of his service in Afghanistan. Asked if he would be apologising to the families of the victims affected by his actions in Afghanistan, Roberts-Smith said: “We haven’t done anything wrong, so we won’t be making any apologies.” | Roberts-Smith said he was proud of his service in Afghanistan. Asked if he would be apologising to the families of the victims affected by his actions in Afghanistan, Roberts-Smith said: “We haven’t done anything wrong, so we won’t be making any apologies.” |