Ben Roberts-Smith ordered to pay media outlets’ legal costs over failed defamation action

Judge rules in favour of Nine newspapers after former soldier sued over articles portraying him as a war criminal

Ben Roberts-Smith has been ordered to pay the legal costs of media outlets party to his failed defamation action over allegations he committed war crimes, the federal court heard on Tuesday.

Roberts-Smith had sued Nine newspapers for defamation over a series of 2018 articles he alleged falsely portrayed him as a criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement" and disgraced" his country and its army.