Ben Roberts-Smith returns from a holiday mysteriously missing a front tooth - as he awaits the outcome of his long-running defamation trial
- Aussie war hero arrived at Sydney Airport with his front tooth knocked out
- Mr Roberts-Smith is awaiting the outcome of his long-running defamation case
- Know why Mr Roberts-Smith is missing a tooth? Contact [email protected]
Ben Roberts-Smith may have had a tooth knocked out while taking a much-needed overseas holiday after his epic defamation case ended.
The Australian war hero, who is awaiting the judgement in the four-year case, arrived at Sydney International Airport with photos taken by Daily Mail Australia showing he is missing one of his front teeth.
Mr Roberts-Smith was returning from a holiday in Queenstown and was accompanied by his girlfriend, Sarah Matulin, on Wednesday.
It is not yet known what caused the mishap, but it is possible the tooth was knocked out while he was in New Zealand.
Ben Roberts-Smith appears to have had a tooth knocked out while on holiday after his epic defamation case ended
Roberts-Smith and his girlfriend, Sarah Matulin, are understood to have taken a break at New Zealand's skiing and extreme sports tourist hub, Queenstown
Photos taken of Mr Roberts-Smith, 43, prior to his brief Kiwi break, showed he was sporting a full set of teeth while he chatted and laughed with Ms Matulin.
Aside from mysteriously missing his upper right incisor, the casually-dressed Mr Roberts-Smith looked in good spirits, grinning broadly on Wednesday.
The couple are understood to have taken a break at New Zealand's skiing and extreme sports tourist hub, Queenstown.
Share this article
Mr Roberts-Smith was spotted skiing near Queenstown by an Australian woman also on holiday there.
New Zealand police had no reports of violent incidents involving Mr Roberts-Smith.
Mr Roberts-Smith is suing The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Canberra Times for defamation over 2018 reports claiming he committed war crimes in Afghanistan including murder, and acts of bullying and domestic violence.
Proceedings in the Federal Court case ended on July 27 four years after more than 100 days of hearings.
Mr Roberts-Smith's reputation as an exceptional, decent and courageous soldier was destroyed by a sustained media campaign alleging he was a war criminal, Justice Anthony Besanko heard on the final day of the trial.
Photos taken of Mr Roberts-Smith, 43, prior to his brief Kiwi break, showed he was sporting a full set of teeth while he chatted and laughed with Ms Matulin
Mr Roberts-Smith was spotted skiing near Queenstown by an Australian woman also on holiday there (Pictured, Mr Roberts-Smith during a workout at Sydney's Redfern Oval)
The war veteran's barrister, Arthur Moses QC told the court the burden was on his media accusers to prove their claims.
'The allegation is baseless and should not have been persisted with,' Mr Moses said.
'Presumably it was persisted with in order to damage Mr Roberts-Smith in aid of the other allegations which have been propounded in this matter.'
Mr Moses said journalists Chris Masters and Nick McKenzie based their sensationalist publications on rumour, hearsay and contradictory accounts from jealous and obsessed former colleagues, including politician and former SAS officer Andrew Hastie.
The most decorated Australian soldier was a 'man with a high reputation for courage, skill and decency and soldiering, and had that reputation destroyed'.
His bravery was awarded with the prestigious and rare Victoria Cross, and consequently he had an unexpected 'target on his back'.
Mr Roberts-Smith is seeking aggravated damages due to the allegations of six murders he either committed or was complicit in Afghanistan between 2006 and 2012.
He and Nine face a nervous wait to hear how Justice Besanko rules.
Most watched News videos
- Clarkson's heated exchange with BBC's Victoria Derbyshire at protest
- Woman falls to death at mall after leaning on escalator rail
- Ukraine fires US-made missiles into Russia
- New footage of sushi served on naked woman at Diddy party
- Katie Couric rips Kamala Harris for not answering questions succinctly
- Jeremy Clarkson tears into Reeves and BBC over inheritance tax raid
- Moment G20 leaders take family photo (but where's Joe Biden?)
- Dramatic moment judge shoots contestant at point-blank range
- Ordinary Americans have THIS message for celebrities fleeing the US
- Footage of Biden 'wandering off' into the Amazon explodes online
- Russian MP threatens US saying 'there will be nothing left of America'
- Nancy Mace says 'come at me, bros' after receiving death threats
