Murders, hidden evidence and threats: judge releases scathing full judgment on Ben Roberts-Smith

Justice Anthony Besanko's complete findings, released today, found the Victoria Cross recipient lied about murdering civilians, deliberately hid evidence from court and threatened potential witnesses

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Ben Roberts-Smith lied about murdering civilians in Afghanistan, deliberately hid potentially damaging evidence from a court, colluded with witnesses who supported him and threatened those who might give evidence against him, a federal court judge has found in an excoriating judgment to conclude the ex-soldier's failed defamation case against three newspapers.

Justice Anthony Besanko found Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross and Australia's most decorated living soldier, murdered civilians while on deployment with the SAS in Afghanistan and lied in his evidence, under oath, before court.