Hearing to test if landmark war-crime case can be tried

Ex-SAS soldier Oliver Jordan Schulz is accused of shooting an Afghani farmer dead in a wheat field. (HANDOUT/AUSTRALIAN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE)

An ex-Australian SAS soldier accused of war crimes over the alleged killing of an Afghani farmer in 2012 could spend well over two years with his case languishing in lower courts.

Oliver Jordan Schulz, 43, is accused of shooting Dad Mohammad three times in a wheat field in Afghanistan's Uruzgan province while the 25-or 26-year-old man lay on his back.

Prosecutors told a local court hearing at Sydney's Downing Centre on Tuesday they would file an application for witnesses to be called during the case's committal stage.

SAS badge (file image)
Ex-SAS soldier Oliver Shulz's war crime case is set for a committal hearing in April.

Committal proceedings are held before a local court magistrate, who decides whether there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial in a higher court.

A date was set for a five-day hearing to take place in April, by which time the matter will have been before local courts for two years following Schulz's arrest in March 2023.

Schulz's Perth-based lawyer, Karen Espiner, told the court via a video link she did not yet know the identities of the proposed witnesses but had been informed there would be up to 10 of them.

Barrister Philip Strickland SC, representing commonwealth prosecutors, said the committal application would be filed as soon as possible given the "considerable period of time" the matter had been in the lower court.

"We are very concerned … it’s been in this court for a long time," he said.

"Whatever is quickest is what we’ll do.”

Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC (file image)
Philip Strickland SC said prosecutors were concerned about the time the case was taking.

Schulz was arrested in March 2023 following a complaint to the Australian Defence Force from the alleged victim's father.

The ex-soldier was released on bail a week after his arrest when a magistrate found he faced a high risk of Taliban attack if he remained behind bars.

Schulz was the first former or serving Australian Defence Force member to be charged with a war crime-related murder.

A five-day committal hearing has been set for April.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Open Arms 1800 011 046

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store