Ben Roberts-Smith’s Defamation Case May Be Halted Due To COVID-19

Ben Roberts-Smith’s Defamation Case May Be Halted Due To COVID-19

Ben Robert-Smith’s defamation trial against three newspapers may come to a standstill. due to the COVID-19 outbreak preventing key witnesses from travelling to Sydney to testify. 

Robert-Smith is suing three newspapers for defamation, two of which are owned by Nine 

Last week Roberts-Smith had to be tested for COVID-19, delaying court proceedings and now the virus is intervening with the case again.  

According to News.com.au, the trial may be suspended temporarily as many of the SAS soldiers that are set to testify are from Western Australia. Because of the COVID-19 outbreak in Sydney, they are unable to travel to give their testimonies. 

News.com.au also reported Nine’s acting counsel, Nicholas Owens SC, said: “With much regret, quarantine requirements and border closures, I am not in position to call witnesses.” 

Video-link is also not an option because of the sensitive information the SAS soldiers may discuss in their testimonies.   

The travel ban between Sydney and Western Australia is particularly concerning because it may not end once restrictions are lifted in Sydney. Western Australia is infamous for keeping its borders shut. 

This may mean the trial could, potentially, be delayed for months.  

According to ABC, the former SAS soldier has spent the last week being cross-examined in court and has denied all allegations he hit his mistress or even had a mistress — claiming he was separated from his wife at the time.  

The Financial Review reported, that the 42-year-old also told the court he was subjected to a “whisper campaign,” and continually denied he committed any war crimes.  

The judge, Anthony Besanko, will make his decision today on whether or not the case can continue. 




Please login with linkedin to comment

ben roberts-smith defamation Nine SES SOLDIER

Latest News

The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card
  • Advertising

The Mars Agency Announces Latest Findings Of Retail Media Report Card

The Mars Agency has developed a scorecard that assesses the capabilities of leading platforms across key criteria required to optimally plan, execute, and measure effective retail media programs. The scorecard aims To help brands efficiently evaluate their spending options across retail media networks in Australia (and New Zealand). With spending on retail media advertising in […]

TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick
  • TV Ratings

TV Ratings (27/03/2024): Jungle Members At War Over Concealed Lipstick

A heated argument between two jungle members did the numbers for Ten last night, with I’m A Celeb obtaining a total national reach of 1,282,000. Fans were delighted as Candice Warner and influencer Skye Wheatley got into it over a stick of lipstick, leading Warner to dub the Instagram star “selfish.” Wheatley, best known for […]