After winning the Victoria Cross and numerous other medals, Australian SAS veteran Ben Roberts Smith became a national hero. But then allegations started to circulate - of bullying within his unit and, more seriously, of prisoners mistreated and executed in Afghanistan. 

Chris Masters, one of Australia’s best known journalists, had been trusted by the military to write a book about the war in Afghanistan. He then became interested in the story of Ben Roberts Smith.

The result would be that Chris, along with a handful of other reporters, was taken to court for defamation in one of Australia’s longest and most bitter legal dramas. In June 2023 the Judge ruled in favour of Chris, tho an appeal maybe pending.

In this episode Chris tells the story from his perspective, and explains that applying the laws of warfare is difficult in extreme circumstances but that it essential that a honourable military system should always try to do it. 

You can buy Chris’ upcoming book on the case - and thousands of others - in our own online bookstore. All profits are shared between podcasters and independent booksellers. 

https://uk.bookshop.org/shop/scandalmongers

For more on Chris:

 https://halloffame.melbournepressclub.com/article/chris-masters

Andrew Lownie.

twitter.com/andrewlownie

Phil Craig.

twitter.com/philmcraig

You can also get in touch with the show hosts via...

[email protected] (place 'Scandal Mongers' in the heading please)

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Production by

Theo X

Kerem Isik

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