Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial: witness expected to deny wrongdoing in killing of Afghan villager

Roberts-Smith, a recipient of the Victoria Cross, is suing the Age, the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times for defamation over a series of ­reports he alleges are defamatory and portray him as committing war crimes, including murder.

The newspapers are pleading a defence of truth. Roberts-Smith denies any wrongdoing.

Roberts-Smith said he climbed the embankment to assist Person 11 in the skirmish and also fired at the man, who was about two metres away.

The man was killed and, Roberts-Smith said, found to be in possession of a radio. Roberts-Smith said the man killed was clearly an insurgent and a legitimate military target who could be killed within the laws of war.

Person 11 is scheduled to follow Person 100 in the witness box. It is expected he will be in court for a number of days.

Arthur Moses SC, acting for Roberts-Smith, told the court Roberts-Smith himself would not get back in the witness box to give evidence in reply.

Last year, Roberts-Smith spent 11 days in the witness box giving evidence and being cross-examined.

The trial before Justice Anthony Besanko is expected to run several more weeks.