Ben Roberts-Smith is an Australian soldier who served in Afghanistan and Iraq for over a decade, earning him numerous awards, including the Victoria Cross - Australia's highest award for valor in combat.
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This defamation case, which caused quite a stir in Australia, could move from civil to criminal proceedings. Australian soldier Ben Roberts-Smith has lost his case against the media accusing him of war crimes in Afghanistan.
A win for the press, a big loss for Ben Roberts-Smith: what does this judgment tell us about defamation law? More broadly, it shows how hard it is to use defamation law to repair any perceived damage to your reputation, says DAVID ROLPH.