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Assistant Defence Minister Andrew Hastie was the star witness at the Ben Roberts-Smith defamation trial today.
Mr Hastie, a former soldier turned politician, recounted his time in the Special Air Service Regiment.
Mr Hastie told the Federal Court of a catch-and-kill mission in 2012 in Syahchow, Afghanistan, where it is alleged Mr Roberts-Smith ordered a junior trooper to execute an Afghan detainee.
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Mr Hastie claimed he saw the prisoner's body and then saw the junior trooper who looked nervous and unlike his usual self.
"I just thought that's not the person I know, the happy-go-lucky, classic, country Aussie," Mr Hastie told the court.
Mr Hastie testified he later ran into Mr Roberts-Smith who, "looked me in the eye and said 'just a couple more dead c—-'".
Mr Roberts-Smith was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2011 and went on to support several mental health charities.
Mr Hastie recalled a time he and other comrades were watching the VC recipient on TV when a colleague said, "Roberts-Smith gave Person 1 depression and now he's going to help him fight it".
"Laughter was the only response, but not at Person 1's expense," Mr Hastie told the court.
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Mr Hastie also testified that he was once proud of Mr Roberts-Smith's achievements and reputation, but he now joins a list of former and serving soldiers giving evidence against the war hero.
The Liberal MP will return to the witness box tomorrow.
Mr Roberts-Smith denies bullying, war crime and domestic violence allegations and is suing Nine Newspapers for defamation.
Source: 9News
