JUSTICE ANTONY BESANKO’S KEY FINDINGS IN FULL JUDGMENT AGAINST BEN ROBERTS-SMITH
* Machine-gunned an unarmed prisoner in the back, taking the man’s prosthetic leg back to Australia to use as a beer-drinking vessel
* Kicked an unarmed, handcuffed man off a cliff, then ordered him shot to ensure he was dead and lied about the incident during the trial
* Ordered another soldier to execute an unarmed Afghan prisoner being interrogated after his troop discovered a fake wall cavity filled with weapons
* Attacked an unarmed prisoner, punching the man three to four times in the head
* Bullied fellow soldiers to stop them speaking out about his actions
* Threatened witnesses with letters and hired private investigators to track them
* Hid incriminating evidence, including burying USB sticks in his ex-wife’s backyard
JUSTICE BESANKO’S KEY QUOTES
* “I find that the applicant (Mr Roberts-Smith) was not an honest and reliable witness”
* “The applicant has motives to lie, being a financial motive to support his claim for damages in these proceedings, a motive to restore his reputation which he contends has been destroyed by the publication of the articles and significantly, a motive to resist findings against him which may affect whether further action is taken against him”
* “The applicant was complicit in and responsible for murder”
* “I am satisfied on the evidence that (Mr Roberts-Smith), through (private investigator) Mr McLeod, arranged for two threatening letters to be sent to Person 18”
* “The sending of the letters may constitute a criminal offence of attempting to pervert the course of justice … or using a postal or similar service to menace, harass or cause offence”
* “I find that the applicant (Mr Roberts-Smith) made the arrangements (to pay the legal fees of close personal friends) because he considered that these witnesses, among others, support his version of events”
Australian Associated Press