Australia's most decorated living soldier threatened witnesses and lied to cover up his wrongdoings, according to the verdict in a landmark defamation trial.
Additionally, it determined that Ben Roberts-Smith was "complicit in and accountable for" the murder of three Afghans.
He lost a defamation case against three Australian newspapers last week involving accusations of war crimes.
It has raised the possibility of a bigger punishment for Australian forces' alleged war crimes.
Judge Anthony Besanko of the Federal Court dismissed the former special forces corporal's lawsuit against The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, and The Canberra Times on Thursday.
According to Roberts-Smith, the newspapers' claims that he had violated the moral and legal laws of war destroyed his life.
In order to give Australian authorities enough time to ensure that the reasons for the judge's decision did not unintentionally reveal information vital to national security, the judge postponed their release until Monday.
However, Judge Besanko concluded that Roberts-Smith had "substantially truth" to the allegations that he had killed unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan.
He continued, "I have difficulty accepting the applicant's evidence on any disputed issue," after declaring the 44-year-old "not an honest and reliable witness.".
He also discovered that the Victoria Cross recipient slandered and threatened others in addition to using the special forces code of silence to intimidate witnesses. .
Roberts-Smith threatened to sue Gina Rinehart, Australia's richest woman, in an effort to intimidate a fellow Afghanistan veteran who was speaking out against him. The ex-soldier was Ms. Rinehart's relative.
He even hired a private investigator to look into the background of another ex-soldier who was having second thoughts about his past. The investigator produced a report that included profiles of the veteran's wife and parents in addition to the ex-soldier. .
Roberts-Smith was also heard berating soldiers who violate the code of silence on a tape recording. "A few members of the special forces had engaged in school talk, which is something we don't do. ".
Since the decision, Roberts-Smith has remained silent, but he is anticipated to appeal to the entire federal court bench.
An estimated A$25 million ($16,3 million, or £13,2 million) was spent on the 110-day defamation trial.
For defeating Taliban machine-gunners who were attacking his Special Air Service (SAS) platoon on his own, Roberts-Smith had been hailed as a national hero and received Australia's highest military honor.
He received numerous honors, including being named Father of the Year in 2013. He was appointed to prominent executive positions. .
However, despite the fact that he has not been charged with any crimes, the father of two is currently the focus of an investigation by the Australia Federal Police into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan. .
'Credible evidence' that elite Australian soldiers killed 39 people in Afghanistan illegally was discovered in 2020 by the Brereton Report, a seminal investigation.
It suggested that 19 active-duty or former soldiers be looked into for allegedly killing prisoners and civilians between 2009 and 2013.
