The parents of Ben Roberts-Smith have made a public statement ahead of their son's high-stakes defamation trial.
Australia's most decorated Afghanistan veteran is suing Nine Entertainment Co over a series of newspaper articles in the Age, Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times that called into question his conduct while serving in Afghanistan.
His parents, Len Roberts-Smith, a former Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force, and his mother, Sue, arrived in Sydney over the weekend to "support their son" and "attend the trial".
"We are very proud of him for the father and son that he is," the family said in a statement.
"We love and care for him like every parent loves and cares for their child."
Tomorrow, three years after the publication of the first report, the trial will begin before Justice Anthony Besanko in the Federal Court in Sydney.
The case, which could last up to 10 weeks, will be unlike any seen in a court in recent times as the Victoria Cross recipient seeks to prove he was unfairly portrayed as having broken the moral and legal rules of war, and is therefore a criminal.
Mr Roberts-Smith's parents said they were relieved that his legal team was finally able to get the case before the Federal Court.
"It will now be for the judge to hear the evidence and deliver judgment in due course," they said.
"That being so, we are not able to make any further comment at this stage."
The nature of the allegations and Mr Roberts-Smith's very identity as an elite soldier have resulted in a varied witness list of about 60 people.
Mr Roberts-Smith's ex-wife, Emma Roberts, will give evidence in the newspapers' defence.
