7 News Spotlight | War hero or war criminal? From Afghanistan to the Australian Federal Court | Full documentary @7newsSpotlight | Uploaded September 2024 | Updated October 2024, 15 hours ago.
With a proud lineage of military relatives, Heston Russell enlisted in the army at 17 and rose through the ranks to become a highly decorated officer with more than 10,000 hours of leadership in combat operations, including four combat deployments to Afghanistan and a fifth to Iraq to fight against ISIS.
He proved fearless in battle, iron-willed in his personal convictions and prepared to put it all on the line.
As a soldier, Russell led our troops into countless battles and when he retired, he kept fighting. He campaigned for the royal commission into veteran suicide, built charities for soldiers and even ran for a seat in the Queensland senate.
But his toughest fight came several years after his discharge, when Russell became the target of a relentless attack launched by the investigations unit of the ABC alleging that he was the worst kind of soldier – leaving a trail of destruction in Afghanistan and involved in fraudulent behaviour back home.
Russell’s battleground this time: the Australian Federal Court, where he spent almost three years fending off the ABC’s allegations of war crimes.
So, is he a war hero or war criminal?
Award-wining journalist Liam Bartlett presents this 7NEWS Spotlight special investigation.
Connect with 7NEWS Spotlight online
Visit » https://7news.com.au/spotlight
7NEWS Spotlight Podcast » http://smarturl.it/7NewsSpotlight
Facebook » facebook.com/7newsSpotlight
Twitter » twitter.com/7newsSpotlight
Instagram » instagram.com/7newsSpotlight
7NEWS combines the trusted and powerful news brands including Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, and 7NEWS.com.au, delivering unique, engaging and continuous coverage on the issues that matter most to Australians. Watch 7NEWS nightly at 6pm and weekdays at 11:30am and 4pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
With a proud lineage of military relatives, Heston Russell enlisted in the army at 17 and rose through the ranks to become a highly decorated officer with more than 10,000 hours of leadership in combat operations, including four combat deployments to Afghanistan and a fifth to Iraq to fight against ISIS.
He proved fearless in battle, iron-willed in his personal convictions and prepared to put it all on the line.
As a soldier, Russell led our troops into countless battles and when he retired, he kept fighting. He campaigned for the royal commission into veteran suicide, built charities for soldiers and even ran for a seat in the Queensland senate.
But his toughest fight came several years after his discharge, when Russell became the target of a relentless attack launched by the investigations unit of the ABC alleging that he was the worst kind of soldier – leaving a trail of destruction in Afghanistan and involved in fraudulent behaviour back home.
Russell’s battleground this time: the Australian Federal Court, where he spent almost three years fending off the ABC’s allegations of war crimes.
So, is he a war hero or war criminal?
Award-wining journalist Liam Bartlett presents this 7NEWS Spotlight special investigation.
Connect with 7NEWS Spotlight online
Visit » https://7news.com.au/spotlight
7NEWS Spotlight Podcast » http://smarturl.it/7NewsSpotlight
Facebook » facebook.com/7newsSpotlight
Twitter » twitter.com/7newsSpotlight
Instagram » instagram.com/7newsSpotlight
7NEWS combines the trusted and powerful news brands including Sunrise, The Morning Show, The Latest, and 7NEWS.com.au, delivering unique, engaging and continuous coverage on the issues that matter most to Australians. Watch 7NEWS nightly at 6pm and weekdays at 11:30am and 4pm on Channel 7 and 7plus.
