Ben Roberts-Smith's defamation case over alleged war crimes in Afghanistan will continue behind closed doors as the Victoria Cross winner takes the witness stand for an eighth day.
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Mr Roberts-Smith, 42, is suing three newspapers in the Federal Court over articles from 2018 he says paint him as a war criminal who broke the moral and legal rules of military engagement with the SAS in Afghanistan.
He denies the claims against him while the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and The Canberra Times defend the allegations of war crimes, murder and domestic violence on the basis of truth.
The war hero has completed his evidence in chief and on Tuesday is expected to face further cross-examination from the respondents' barrister Nicholas Owens SC about his military service in Afghanistan, where he made six deployments between 2006 and 2012.
Mr Roberts-Smith, who is the trial's first witness, is expected to give his evidence on Tuesday in closed court.
He has previously testified behind closed doors on issues of sensitive national security.
In his evidence on Monday, Mr Roberts-Smith denied claims of any involvement in two alleged killings of Afghan prisoners on an SAS mission at a compound in Afghanistan in 2009.
Proceedings were delayed for part of Monday while the decorated veteran waited for the results of a COVID-19 test, which came back negative.
The trial has previously been told Mr Roberts-Smith will likely be on the stand until the middle of the week.
Australian Associated Press
