Calls for the stripping of Australia's most decorated soldier of the Victoria Cross

Roberts-Smith has lost a historic libel suit against newspapers that accused him of war crimes. Photo: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Australia's The most decorated living war veteran quit his job at the company amid calls to strip him of his coveted Victoria Cross after a civil court ruled that he unlawfully killed four Afghans.

Ben Roberts-Smith, a retired Australian elite Special Air Service Regiment a decade ago, resigned as government manager of Seven West Media on Friday after losing a historic libel suit on Thursday against newspapers that charged with war crimes.

The 44-year-old has taken a leave of absence since 2021 to focus on his federal court case funded by the company's executive chairman, billionaire Kerry Stokes.

“Ben was on vacation while the case was going on. and offered his resignation today, which we have accepted,” Chief Executive James Warburton said in an email to staff.

“We thank Ben for his commitment to Seven and wish him all the best,” he added.

Mr. Roberts-Smith fought to save his reputation by filing a defamation suit in federal court after being accused in Australian newspapers of a range of war crimes in 2018, including involvement in six unlawful killings.

< img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/e654611b34bf0eaa0233455c9f63d3f3.jpg" /> Roberts-Smith with the late Queen Elizabeth II during an audience at Buckingham Palace in 2011. Photo: REUTERS/Anthony Devlin. finding that the articles were essentially correct. The judge also found that Mr. Roberts-Smith was responsible for four of the six unlawful deaths he was accused of.

Media lawyer Justin Quill said Mr. Roberts-Smith's lawyers would be shocked by the extent of his losses.

«Ultimately, the judge concluded that he committed four murders, and this is as serious as it is. Maybe. Mr Quill said. «I would say that even in his worst nightmares he didn't expect yesterday to go so badly.»

Mr Roberts-Smith remains under investigation by the Australian police for war crimes .

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In March, a former Australian SAS soldier became the first to be charged with a war crime linked to the country's 20-year Afghan campaign.

Mr Roberts-Smith's SAS colleagues are among those calling him become the first recipient of the Victoria Cross in Australia to be stripped of the highest award for gallantry in action.

Journalists Chris Masters (left) and Nick McKenzie (right) speaks to the media outside the Federal Court of Australia in Sydney. Photo: SAID KHAN/AFP via Getty Images

Mr. Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions at the Battle of Tizak in 2010, when he saved the life of his platoon by single-handedly storming two Taliban machine-gun nests.

The Australian government declined to comment on the case against him .

Minor Greens Senator David Shoebridge said Mr Roberts-Smith should be stripped of honors and the Australian War Memorial should remove memorabilia, including portraits, medals and a display of his uniform.

“At a minimum, we should see the Australian War Memorial take action to remove the display that is now there for Ben Roberts-Smith. His uniform and his medals, which thousands of people will come to see and testify tomorrow,” said Mr. Shoebridge.

“The Australian War Memorial has a responsibility to tell the whole truth about Australia's involvement in Afghanistan,” said Shoebridge. he added.

The memorial says that the context of a civil court can be added to Mr. Roberts-Smith's display.