Finding the truth vs. "The Rule of Law"

[sptrawler]

And another one..

Buried evidence and threats: How Ben Roberts-Smith tried to cover up his alleged crimes

Australia’s most decorated soldier tried to hide shameful images and apparent evidence of war crimes. Now they have been unearthed.

www.theage.com.au

Soldiers to oppose document release in Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case

Two Australian soldiers expected to be called as witnesses by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in a defamation trial against media are set to oppose the proposed release of documents about their own conduct in Afghanistan.

www.smh.com.au

Yes it will be interesting to see how that one unfolds, there seems to be a lot of pictures showing a booze up, but is that a war crime?
I certainly hope the media get enough mileage out of these cases, the courts will eventually get fed up and really start to dish out some fines, for both sides IMO, for bogging down the justice system. ?
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-04...ies-60-minutes-allegations-baseless/100062286
From the article:
Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine newspapers over a series of 2018 stories alleging he committed war crimes in Afghanistan.

In a statement, he denied that he engaged in any unlawful conduct, saying the allegations are not supported by evidence.

"These allegations were not put to Mr Roberts-Smith prior to being broadcast on 60 Minutes and published in the Nine newspapers," a representative for him said.

"Had Mr McKenzie or Nine wished to engage in impartial or objective journalism, they would have sought Mr Roberts-Smith's comment."

Mr Roberts-Smith said he would not be "intimidated" by Nine or journalist Nick McKenzie into dropping the defamation action against them.

Nine also obtained alleged secret recordings of Mr Roberts-Smith in which he appeared to say he was indebted to his media mogul boss Kerry Stokes and vowed to destroy journalists publishing stories about him.


Wow that last statement is Earth shattering.?

Him saying he will destroy the journalists, is bad, but the journalists trying to destroy him, isn't? ?

 

[sptrawler]

And another one..

Buried evidence and threats: How Ben Roberts-Smith tried to cover up his alleged crimes

Australia’s most decorated soldier tried to hide shameful images and apparent evidence of war crimes. Now they have been unearthed.

www.theage.com.au

Soldiers to oppose document release in Ben Roberts-Smith defamation case

Two Australian soldiers expected to be called as witnesses by Victoria Cross recipient Ben Roberts-Smith in a defamation trial against media are set to oppose the proposed release of documents about their own conduct in Afghanistan.

www.smh.com.au

This is in today's paper.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ben...2-p57if9.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true
From the article:
The new evidence includes letters Mr Roberts-Smith allegedly placed in sealed envelopes and planned to send anonymously to SAS soldiers he feared would testify against him at a war crimes inquiry.

The AFP has also uncovered the existence of at least five “burner” phones that the Victoria Cross recipient arranged to be purchased in 2018, according to records sighted by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Authorities have identified multiple Optus and Telstra SIM cards purchased for use in burner phones belonging to Mr Roberts-Smith in 2018 and 2019.
A joint investigation by The Age, the Heraldand 60 Minutes revealed allegations that Mr Roberts-Smith, an accused war criminal, dug a hole in the backyard of his Queensland house and buried USB drives inside a pink plastic children’s lunchbox, hiding them from both police and military investigations. The USB drives contained images of bad behaviour by soldiers at a makeshift bar in Afghanistan, as well as classified documents and videos.

The images on the USBs buried by Mr Roberts-Smith included photographs showing a senior commissioned Special Air Services Regiment commanding officer simulating a sex act with a high-ranking soldier using an object taken from a model camel.

I wonder if the media will be calling up the camel, to give evidence?
I reckon if he wins the defamation case, the payout will be eye watering.

 

[basilio]

This is in today's paper.
https://www.smh.com.au/national/ben...2-p57if9.html?js-chunk-not-found-refresh=true
From the article:
The new evidence includes letters Mr Roberts-Smith allegedly placed in sealed envelopes and planned to send anonymously to SAS soldiers he feared would testify against him at a war crimes inquiry.

The AFP has also uncovered the existence of at least five “burner” phones that the Victoria Cross recipient arranged to be purchased in 2018, according to records sighted by The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. Authorities have identified multiple Optus and Telstra SIM cards purchased for use in burner phones belonging to Mr Roberts-Smith in 2018 and 2019.
A joint investigation by The Age, the Heraldand 60 Minutes revealed allegations that Mr Roberts-Smith, an accused war criminal, dug a hole in the backyard of his Queensland house and buried USB drives inside a pink plastic children’s lunchbox, hiding them from both police and military investigations. The USB drives contained images of bad behaviour by soldiers at a makeshift bar in Afghanistan, as well as classified documents and videos.

The images on the USBs buried by Mr Roberts-Smith included photographs showing a senior commissioned Special Air Services Regiment commanding officer simulating a sex act with a high-ranking soldier using an object taken from a model camel.

I wonder if the media will be calling up the camel, to give evidence?
I reckon if he wins the defamation case, the payout will be eye watering.

Seriously ? After reading that story I think Andrew Roberts-Smith is half way to a long jail stretch. Intimidating witnesses, conning police into a massive home raid on a potential witness - not to mention what actually happened in Afghanistan on the ground.

Very ugly indeed. Going to be interesting to see how long Kerry Stokes supports him - or gets dragged down.

 

[sptrawler]

Seriously ? After reading that story I think Andrew Roberts-Smith is half way to a long jail stretch.
It will be interesting, to see if you are proven right

 

[sptrawler]

Seriously ? After reading that story I think Andrew Roberts-Smith is half way to a long jail stretch. Intimidating witnesses, conning police into a massive home raid on a potential witness - not to mention what actually happened in Afghanistan on the ground.

Very ugly indeed. Going to be interesting to see how long Kerry Stokes supports him - or gets dragged down.

The Age and SMH are certainly cranking it up a notch, it is all going to come to a head soon, Stokes now accused of funding Smith with shareholder money.
ATM I'm seeing a lot of accusations of bad behaviour, but as for war crimes, there doesn't seem to be a lot, also the photo's presented seem to show Smith in attendance, but don't actually show him doing much.
The other thing with 'burner phones', they seem to be inferring that having more than one SIM card indicates criminal behaviour, I have a few and they aren't used for criminal behaviour.
Seems to be a lot of finger pointing and mud slinging, but doesn't appear to a lot of war crime stuff, certainly getting exciting.
It will end up in tears for one side, which one will be very interesting.
As you say Smith could end up in jail, or the media could end up with one of the biggest payouts in history IMO.

 

[Humid]

The Age and SMH are certainly cranking it up a notch, it is all going to come to a head soon, Stokes now accused of funding Smith with shareholder money.
ATM I'm seeing a lot of accusations of bad behaviour, but as for war crimes, there doesn't seem to be a lot, also the photo's presented seem to show Smith in attendance, but don't actually show him doing much.
The other thing with 'burner phones', they seem to be inferring that having more than one SIM card indicates criminal behaviour, I have a few and they aren't used for criminal behaviour.
Seems to be a lot of finger pointing and mud slinging, but doesn't appear to a lot of war crime stuff, certainly getting exciting.
It will end up in tears for one side, which one will be very interesting.
As you say Smith could end up in jail, or the media could end up with one of the biggest payouts in history IMO.

You have burner phones ?
Tell me more 007

 

[sptrawler]

You have burner phones ?
Tell me more 007

Apparently that is what they call it, if you have more than one SIM card, the media love to dramatise hey Maxwell.
I have two in my phone and one in my dongle. ? ? ?

 

[basilio]

The Age and SMH are certainly cranking it up a notch, it is all going to come to a head soon, Stokes now accused of funding Smith with shareholder money.
ATM I'm seeing a lot of accusations of bad behaviour, but as for war crimes, there doesn't seem to be a lot, also the photo's presented seem to show Smith in attendance, but don't actually show him doing much.
The other thing with 'burner phones', they seem to be inferring that having more than one SIM card indicates criminal behaviour, I have a few and they aren't used for criminal behaviour.
Seems to be a lot of finger pointing and mud slinging, but doesn't appear to a lot of war crime stuff, certainly getting exciting.
It will end up in tears for one side, which one will be very interesting.
As you say Smith could end up in jail, or the media could end up with one of the biggest payouts in history IMO.

SP I wasn't even going into the war crimes stories. The issues that caught my eye were Intimidating witnesses, conning police into a massive home raid on a potential witness. These alone represent clearly criminal behaviour. It seemed from the reports that police were already aware of these actions.

Not to mention the burying of evidence in his backyard.

We'll see.

 

[moXJO]

They are not burner phones, unless it's in someone else's name. Whoever wrote that article was an idiot.

 

[sptrawler]

SP I wasn't even going into the war crimes stories. The issues that caught my eye were Intimidating witnesses, conning police into a massive home raid on a potential witness. These alone represent clearly criminal behaviour. It seemed from the reports that police were already aware of these actions.

Not to mention the burying of evidence in his backyard.

We'll see.

But Bas, he is suing them for defamation, as they said he committed war crimes, the other stuff is peripheral 'white noise' by the media who he is suing.
Unless they have proof of his war crimes, that can stand investigation, all they are doing is digging a bigger hole.

Who buried the 'evidence' in the back yard? Was it him? Was it planted evidence gathered by the defendant? Was it incriminatory evidence planted by one of the witnesses?
Just because the media said he buried it, doesn't make it so until proven, if it can't be proven, that is why we have a legal system.
I would assume that could be further grounds for defamation, unless it is proven he buried the evidence.
Like I keep telling you, just because the media say something, doesn't make it gospel, in a lot of cases what they say is an assumption.

 

[moXJO]

But Bas, he is suing them for defamation, as they said he committed war crimes, the other stuff is peripheral 'white noise' by the media who he is suing.
Unless they have proof of his war crimes, that can stand investigation, all they are doing is digging a bigger hole.

Who buried the 'evidence' in the back yard? Was it him? Was it planted evidence gathered by the defendant? Was it incriminatory evidence planted by one of the witnesses?
Just because the media said he buried it, doesn't make it so until proven, if it can't be proven, that is why we have a legal system.
I would assume that could be further grounds for defamation, unless it is proven he buried the evidence.
Like I keep telling you, just because the media say something, doesn't make it gospel, in a lot of cases what they say is an assumption.

I want to know how they found it?

Anonymous tip would look very suss.

 

[sptrawler]

If he had incriminating evidence, why wouldnt he just have destroyed it? Rather than bury it and as you say if he did bury, why would anyone go digging up the back yard, it isnt as though there is a missing body or money to warrant police man hours digging up a back yard. Very suss indeed.
How is the media getting all the 'evidence' to further their defence?
Interesting, luckily the legal system isnt as easily led, as some of the public, or else anyone could be destroyed.
It will be an interesting case, should be highly entertaining, whichever side wins.
It will be expensive, for someone.

 

[IFocus]

SP I wasn't even going into the war crimes stories. The issues that caught my eye were Intimidating witnesses, conning police into a massive home raid on a potential witness. These alone represent clearly criminal behaviour. It seemed from the reports that police were already aware of these actions.

Not to mention the burying of evidence in his backyard.

We'll see.

I was surprised by the intimidation false accusations aimed at the witness being so easily traced back to the source.

That behaviour asks a lot of questions.

I admire the SAS like most Australians but after seeing the lack of discipline I continually wonder why no officers were held to account.

 

[basilio]

These were the comments from The Age story that seem to unglue Roberts-Smith.
It is also clear from the article that a number of other soldiers had been intimidated and were now speaking up.

But we will see what happens won't we ? And I still believe winning or losing a defamation case is the least of Roberts-Smith concerns.

The police, though, have never downed tools. In around April 2020, the AFP sent two briefs of evidence to Commonwealth prosecutors. The briefs outline the police case that Roberts-Smith is implicated in the execution of Afghan prisoners, including one who was kicked off a small cliff in 2012.

A number of sources have also confirmed that it was some time in 2020 that federal agents covertly obtained the contents of the USBs that Roberts-Smith had buried in his backyard.

By the way the contents of the legally obtained phone audios of Roberts-Smith is equally damning. Check the link. I wonder if he will have a go The Age etc for defamation on the basis of these tapes ?

Related Article​

Secrets of War​

‘I’m going to do everything I can to f---ing destroy them’: Secret Ben Roberts-Smith audio revealed​

Police detectives have also gathered evidence that has allowed them to trace back to Roberts-Smith the threatening letter and the emails that prompted a police raid on a Brereton Inquiry witness.

Buried evidence and threats: How Ben Roberts-Smith tried to cover up his alleged crimes

Australia’s most decorated soldier tried to hide shameful images and apparent evidence of war crimes. Now they have been unearthed.

www.theage.com.au

 

[sptrawler]

These were the comments from The Age story that seem to unglue Roberts-Smith.
It is also clear from the article that a number of other soldiers had been intimidated and were now speaking up.

But we will see what happens won't we ? And I still believe winning or losing a defamation case is the least of Roberts-Smith concerns.

The police, though, have never downed tools. In around April 2020, the AFP sent two briefs of evidence to Commonwealth prosecutors. The briefs outline the police case that Roberts-Smith is implicated in the execution of Afghan prisoners, including one who was kicked off a small cliff in 2012.

A number of sources have also confirmed that it was some time in 2020 that federal agents covertly obtained the contents of the USBs that Roberts-Smith had buried in his backyard.

By the way the contents of the legally obtained phone audios of Roberts-Smith is equally damning. Check the link. I wonder if he will have a go The Age etc for defamation on the basis of these tapes ?

Related Article​

View attachment 122768

Secrets of War​

‘I’m going to do everything I can to f---ing destroy them’: Secret Ben Roberts-Smith audio revealed​

Police detectives have also gathered evidence that has allowed them to trace back to Roberts-Smith the threatening letter and the emails that prompted a police raid on a Brereton Inquiry witness.

Buried evidence and threats: How Ben Roberts-Smith tried to cover up his alleged crimes

Australia’s most decorated soldier tried to hide shameful images and apparent evidence of war crimes. Now they have been unearthed.

www.theage.com.au

This is getting better and better, what a great 'who dunnit', terrific stuff IMO.
Three questions I have from the article:
1 How would a corporal in the SAS get top secret drone footage, that was on the USB?

2 How did the reporter and media defendants get the 'new' information?

3 The photo's in the makeshift bar obviously weren't taken by Smith and also show him not actually doing anything lewd, so why are the photo's important ? Other than maybe to influence public opinion?

AFP confirms probe into Ben Roberts-Smith video allegations

The AFP has launched a fresh investigation into the former SAS soldier for allegedly burying sensitive Defence files in his backyard.

www.theage.com.au

From the article: (The article is from the company that is being sued, from my understanding)
The Australian Federal Police has confirmed it has launched a fresh investigation into Ben Roberts-Smith for allegedly burying sensitive Defence files in his backyard and is treating an accusation he attempted to intimidate a witness in an investigation into war crimes “as a priority”.

The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald revealed on Wednesday the alleged war criminal kept more than a dozen Department of Defence drone videos of Afghanistan military operations buried in his backyard, including videos watermarked as “secret” and only to be shared among certain NATO forces.

The files buried by Mr Roberts-Smith in a pink, child’s lunch box included 13 videos of drone vision taken by NATO military forces in Afghanistan as well as copies of classified operational reports from a Special Air Service mission in Southern Afghanistan and contained images of soldiers misbehaving at a makeshift bar.

Mr McCartney said the AFP had opened an investigation into “aspects of that media reporting” but cautioned he would “prefer not to provide a running commentary” on the probe.
He confirmed the AFP now has access to “some material” that was in the buried USB drives.

“Some of that material was actually … referred to the AFP by the journalist in question and also by his newspaper,” he said.


There will be a movie made about this, for sure.

 

[Humid]

I must admit its timely relief from the desk wanker and alleged bum rooter
Cant see that being a success in the box office....

 

[sptrawler]

I must admit its timely relief from the desk wanker and alleged bum rooter
Cant see that being a success in the box office....

I don't know, the gay mardi gras has become really popular, there might be a movie out of those incidents also. You should audition for the bloke in the office, or the receiver, you sound well qualified for both parts. ?

 

[Humid]

I don't know, the gay mardi gras has become really popular, there might be a movie out of those incidents also. You should audition for the bloke in the office, or the receiver, you sound well qualified for both parts. ?

wanking credits.....

 

[Humid]

For anyone who can be bothered

The arc of justice • Margaret Simons

Journalism has a different role to play from the legal system. It begins with reporting the facts as the journalist understands them

insidestory.org.au

 

[rederob]