Roberts-Smith says failed court case cost Kerry Stokes 'upwards of $30m'

Ben Roberts-Smith maintains innocence in war crimes allegations

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Ben Roberts-Smith, a Victoria Cross recipient, has given a lengthy radio interview while awaiting a trial over alleged war crimes. He has been charged with five counts of war crime murder, relating to his deployments with the Special Air Service Regiment in Afghanistan between 2009 and 2012. Prosecutors allege the victims were unarmed Afghan nationals not taking part in hostilities, shot by Mr Roberts-Smith or by soldiers acting under his orders.

Mr Roberts-Smith has continued to emphatically deny wrongdoing and insisted he always adhered to the rules of engagement. He stated, "I wouldn't change a single thing" about his military career, when asked by host Ben Fordham if there was anything he would change, even if it was not criminal.

The veteran said he had no regrets about his military career, and that he would do it all exactly the same way, because he knows he did the right thing. He also stated that he was prepared to die for this country every time he went outside the wire, and that he did whatever he could to keep his mates alive, but he never broke the rules of engagement.

Ben Roberts-Smith also spoke about his failed defamation case against Nine newspapers, which ended with a Federal Court finding that allegations he was responsible for, or complicit in the deaths of four detainees in Afghanistan, were substantially true. He conceded that he was "naive" about the civil court system.

Ben Roberts-Smith has revealed how much his failed defamation case cost the billionaire who helped bankroll it, stating it cost "upwards of $30m". He will continue to fight allegations of war crime murder.

Ben Roberts-Smith's comments come as he awaits a trial over alleged war crimes. He has maintained the position that he will fight these allegations and their charges in their entirety.

keyFacts':['Ben Roberts-Smith has been charged with five counts of war crime murder','He has maintained his innocence and stated he would not change a single thing about his military career','His failed defamation case against Nine newspapers ended with a Federal Court finding that allegations he was responsible for, or complicit in the deaths of four detainees in Afghanistan, were substantially true','He will continue to fight allegations of war crime murder','Ben Roberts-Smith has revealed how much his failed defamation case cost the billionaire who helped bankroll it, stating it cost