Listen
Ben Roberts-Smith in January 2011 when he was awarded the Victoria Cross. Photo: AFP / Australian Department of Defence
An Australian federal court judge has thrown out defamation claims made by an Australian veteran and Victoria Cross holder, Ben Roberts-Smith.
Mr Roberts-Smith launched the suit after a series of articles were published in 2018, accusing him of unlawful killings while he was deployed with the SAS in Afghanistan.
Justice Besanko didn't find in favour of all the newspapers' defence, but for some of the most serious allegations, including war crimes, he found truth was established.
Auckland-based investigative journalist Jon Stephenson, says it was a huge win for the newspapers, and it's not over yet.
He spoke to Corin Dann.