Two books by Nick McKenzie and Chris Masters about their reporting on Ben Roberts-Smith shed light on money, power, myth-making and the importance of investigative journalism.
The awarding, and revoking, of military medals is more complex than it appears, and is no replacement for the proper investigation of alleged war crimes.
The explosive evidence heard in the case also underscores the need for the Army and the Australian public to reckon fully with the conduct of Australian forces in the Afghanistan campaign.
In his judgment, the judge said he was satisfied the most serious imputations were proven on the balance of probabilities, which is the test in such civil cases.
More broadly, this case shows how hard it is to use defamation law to repair any perceived damage to your reputation. Once a case begins, you never can control what will be said in court.