Huge cost of Ben Roberts-Smith trial revealed
Various media organisations are paying for multiple witnesses’ legal bills in the defamation case against Ben Roberts-Smith.
A former SAS patrol commander identified as Person 5 told the Federal Court that his $65,000 legal bill was being covered by billionaire Channel 7 boss Kerry Stokes.
The Victoria Cross recipient told the court that Stokes stepped in when the witness was not receiving any support from the Australian Defence Force.
Stokes however clarified that the bills were charged to his private company, Australian Capital Equity.
“Kerry discovered Defence was not covering some of the witnesses’ legal expenses so he stepped into the breach,” his spokesman told The Daily Telegraph.
Person 5 is not the first witness to have his legal bills covered by a major company - and the bill for the ongoing defamation case against Nine is expected to reach a huge $100 million.
Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine and its journalists over a series of articles claiming he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, bullied his squadmates and abused his “mistress”.
Denying all the allegations, Mr Roberts-Smith insisted he only killed enemy combatants within the rules of war, did not cheat on his wife and he abhors domestic violence.
Nine, who are fighting to prove that the allegations are true, have already covered the legal costs for former witnesses and soldiers who were brought up to give their statements.
They have also paid the legal fees, sorted accommodation, and travel for Mr Roberts-Smith’s ex-wife, known as Person 17.
Multiple witnesses who gave evidence while based in Afghanistan also had their legal feels covered by Nine.
The hearing continues.
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