News Corp’sThe Australiannewspaper reported on Saturday that Mr Roberts-Smith appeared on Dame Quentin’s doorstep in Brisbane last Wednesday with a bunch of flowers.
Sources said she was “horrified” to think she was getting caught up in his legal case as a character witness. It appeared to be an amazing coup for Mr Roberts-Smith that one of Australia’s most highly respected governors-general,who pinned the VC to his lapel,was prepared to take the stand in the high-profile case.
But there was a problem. Not only had Mr Roberts-Smith apparently not sought her permission to mention her name in court but worse,sources aware of the situation knew she had serious reservations about becoming personally involved.
Dame Quentin was among a small number of people from whom Mr Roberts-Smith had sought support in his defamation action.
Newspaper reports in 2018 alleged he committed war crimes while serving as a Special Air Service Regiment soldier in Afghanistan and also that he had assaulted a woman. Mr Roberts-Smith denies all the allegations.
Since then,the Australian Federal Police has launched three investigations:two dealing with his alleged war crimes and one dealing with allegations he had intimidated witnesses.