Oliver Jordan Schulz did not make a bail application when he appeared in the Queanbeyan Local Court. Photo: Claire Fenwicke.
WEDNESDAY: More details in the case against the former solider from the Snowy Monaro accused of committing a war crime have been revealled in court documents.
It is alleged Oliver Jordan Schulz murdered Dad Mohammad in Deh Jawz, which is in Uruzgan Province in Afghanistan, on 28 May 2012 during an armed conflict.
Court documents allege he caused the death of Mr Mohammad when the latter was not taking an active part in the hostilities.
The documents allege Mr Schulz knew or was reckless to the factual circumstances establishing that his alleged victim was not taking an active part in the hostilities.
EARLIER: A former Australian soldier who lives in the Snowy Monaro region made no application for bail after he was accused of a war crime, the alleged murder of a man in Afghanistan.
It is alleged Oliver Jordan Schulz murdered an Afghan man while he was deployed to Afghanistan with the Australian Defence Force.
He was arrested on Monday morning (20 March) and appeared in the Queanbeyan Local Court later that day when he was formally handed a charge of war crime – murder.
The 41-year-old made no bail application and bail was formally refused by Magistrate Roger Clisdell, who adjourned the matter for a mention in the Sydney Downing Centre on 16 May.
Mr Schulz is from the rural community of Moonbah, which is south of Jindabyne.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) said this was the first war crime charge of murder to be laid against a serving or former Australian Defence Force member under Australian law.
“The OSI [Office of the Special Investigator] and AFP are working together to investigate allegations of criminal offences under Australian law related to breaches of the Laws of Armed Conflict by Australian Defence Force personnel in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016,” a police spokesperson said.
The maximum penalty for war crime – murder is life imprisonment.
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