Flawed Hero by Chris Masters

Author:Chris Masters
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Published: 2023-06-29T00:00:00+00:00

For the rest of the morning, there was an unrelenting onslaught of attacks on The Redhead’s competence. Sitting just metres away, I felt he was in the metaphorical equivalent of the medieval stocks, having excrement pelted at him. I mean no criticism of Bruce McClintock SC, who was doing his professional best—but in the courtroom, as in many military barracks, you might say, bullying has a form of sanction. In the courtroom, sustained character attacks are not meant to be taken personally.

SASR selection is a test of character as well as of physical and mental toughness. For me, The Redhead had endured remarkably well, and survived as a professional soldier. In the witness box, too, he remained stoic, passive, unruffled, succinct.

In contrast, Ben Roberts-Smith, seated just metres away, glowered. His deep animus for The Redhead had been apparent when we spoke in 2017, and from his corner in the courtroom, five years on, it felt to me undiminished. This was odd, I thought, considering The Redhead had never levelled an allegation of war crimes against his tormentor.

The Redhead was relieved before the lunch break, and he and I again failed to cross paths. Another punishing day for this career soldier, although I hoped it might have been in some way cathartic.

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