Compromising texts laid bare at Ben Roberts-Smith trial
As Ben Roberts-Smith’s defamation trial continues, his private texts messages and conversations with his now ex-wife have been revealed to the court.
Under cross-examination, he was questioned about intimidating letters Nine newspapers allege he sent to an SAS soldier with “mafia-style threats”.
Nicholas Owens, SC, representing Nine, told the court Emma Roberts-Smith messaged her husband after media reports alleged he sent the threatening letters.
The court was told Ms Roberts-Smith said to her husband: “What the f*** are you doing. What is this all about”.
Mr Owens alleged Mr Roberts-Smith admitted to sending a letter to a soldier, known as Person 18, which his wife replied by saying: “No more f***ing lies Ben.
“You know they can trace your fingerprints and where this letter was sent.”
Mr Roberts-Smith denied sending the letters, as well as refuting Mr Owens’ assertion he burnt the remaining envelopes “in your firepit at home”.
Though Mr Roberts-Smith did admit to burning computer hard drives with petrol, he said he did not do it to conceal evidence from the official Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force inquiry into Australian troops’ conduct while in Afghanistan.
He also denied “panicking” about the inquiry potentially revealing alleged war crimes.
“If I’m not going to trade in a computer, I’m going to destroy the hard drive,” he said.
“I’ve burned laptops in 2010 and 2012. It’s not anything to do with anything.”
Mr Owens also read out an alleged exchange of text messages between Emma Roberts-Smith and her then-husband in late 2017 detailing the supposed criminal activities of another soldier.
Mr Roberts-Smith claimed a soldier, known as Person 6, had smuggled weapons illegally to Australia from Afghanistan.
Ben Roberts-Smith: “I miss you too.”
Emma Roberts-Smith: “Haha, girls doing okay, I just miss you not here.”
Ben Roberts-Smith: “What happened to [name of Person 6] will scare the others.”
When Mr Owens asked whether he had sent the last message because he knew WA Police were investigating Person 6 and had raided his home, Mr Roberts-Smith said he was unaware of any police investigations.
During his fifth day of cross-examination by Nine media lawyers, Mr Roberts-Smith was quizzed about two letters received by Person 18, who lived in Perth.
One letter read, “You have one chance to save yourself.
“You must approach the inquiry and admit that you colluded with others to spread rumours and lies.
“We are very aware of your murderous actions over many tours in Afghanistan.
“We have many witnesses.
“You have participated in the execution of two PUCs. You know what you have done and so do we.”
Person 18 had partolled with Ben Roberts-Smith in Afghanistan in 2009 and 2010.
Mr Owens accused the war hero of making private investigator John McLeod send the letters, and that Mr Roberts-Smith’s handwriting was on part of the address line.
Though Mr Roberts-Smith agreed he had written part of the address line, he denied writing the threatening letters to Person 18 or asking Mr McLeod to do so.