The accused mistress of Ben Roberts-Smith is set to testify in the defamation trial of the century this week, where attorneys will question her about a tumultuous connection with the famous former soldier.
Meanwhile, an SAS officer testified in court that he understood speaking to media to tarnish Mr Roberts-Victoria Smith’s Cross award for gallantry was unlawful, but he did it nonetheless.
Mr Roberts-Smith is suing Nine newspapers and journalists for a series of articles alleging that he committed war crimes in Afghanistan, mistreated fellow SAS soldiers, and assaulted his “mistress.”
Every accusation has been refuted by the retired soldier.
There are nine claims in total. Person 17, an unidentified lawyer, dated Mr Roberts-Smith in late 2017 and early 2018 while they were still married.
According to the court, the relationship was characterized by mutual distrust and confrontations.
The most damning charge made by Nine is that Mr Roberts-Smith punched Person 17 in the face after she went down some steps at a posh party in Canberra while inebriated.
Mr Roberts-Smith told the court that the woman was hurt in the fall and that he had stayed up all night caring for her.
