Ben Roberts-Smith to appeal defamation case loss
Disgraced war veteran Ben Roberts-Smith will launch an appeal against his historic loss of a mega defamation lawsuit.
Last month, the Federal Court dismissed the Victoria Cross recipient’s claims against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times, as well as journalists Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters.
A judgement handed down by Justice Anthony Besanko, which was several hundred pages long, found the Nine publications had proven central allegations of war crimes, including four unlawful killings, which were sufficient to throw out the case.
The decision was heralded as a win for press freedom, with McKenzie, an award-winning investigative reporter, saying: “Today is a day of justice.”
On Tuesday, Roberts-Smith filed a notice of appeal in the Federal Court. His lawyers had received an extension of the deadline to submit an appeal.
In a statement, Nine’s managing director of publishing James Chessell said: “We believe the Federal Court’s judgment is comprehensive and categorical. The appeal will be opposed.
“We will always stand up for journalism that is in the public interest.”
The Guardian reports it will likely be next year before the appeal is heard.
Roberts-Smith was being personally and financially supported by Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes throughout the trial.
The legal bill for the landmark legal action is said to be in the order of $30 million. A dispute over costs is ongoing, with Nine seeking to have Seven and Stokes foot the bill.
The media mogul has been tight-lipped on whether he still supports Roberts-Smith, whom he employed in a plum role within Seven’s Queensland division until the allegations emerged.
Mumbrella has approached Stokes for comment.
Will he still be disgraced should he succeed in his appeal ?
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