Missing witness and a change of government: the latest delays in Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation case

Trial held up due to Covid and fall of Kabul now waits for evidence release by new attorney general and reappearance of Person 27

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Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation case - first filed in 2018 - has borne delays for Covid and national security concerns, been rearranged because of the fall of Kabul, and now, in its final days of evidence, the trial has been further stalled by a change of government and witnesses who can't be found.

The nearly year-long trial, has only two witnesses left to appear - both subpoenaed by Roberts-Smith: two serving SAS members, anonymised as Person 27 and Person 81.

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