Lawyer for Roberts-Smith argues phrase did not necessarily indicate illegitimate killing and casts doubt on evidence from Afghan locals
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Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial was given no evidence that “blooding the rookie” could only mean procuring a murder, the war veteran’s lawyers have argued.
On Tuesday morning, Roberts-Smith’s barrister, Bret Walker SC, raised issue with Justice Anthony Besanko’s finding in June that Roberts-Smith, while a member of the Special Air Service Regiment in 2009, ordered a less experienced soldier to execute an elderly, unarmed Afghan man in order to “blood the rookie”.
Continue reading…Lawyer for Roberts-Smith argues phrase did not necessarily indicate illegitimate killing and casts doubt on evidence from Afghan localsGet our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcastBen Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial was given no evidence that “blooding the rookie” could only mean procuring a murder, the war veteran’s lawyers have argued.On Tuesday morning, Roberts-Smith’s barrister, Bret Walker SC, raised issue with Justice Anthony Besanko’s finding in June that Roberts-Smith, while a member of the Special Air Service Regiment in 2009, ordered a less experienced soldier to execute an elderly, unarmed Afghan man in order to “blood the rookie”. Continue reading…