An Australian soldier, Oliver Schulz, has been charged with murder, following a investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan.
Schulz was arrested yesterday and will appear in court today.
Schulz, a former member of the Australian SAS, is the first person to be charged with a war crime under Australian law. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
Following allegations of illegal activity by Australia soldiers the country’s government set up an inquiry to investigate the claims. The report, released in 2020, said that there was credible evidence that Australian soldiers had unlawfully killed nearly 40 people and thus committed war crimes.
Schulz is believed to be a soldier that was captured on film shooting an Afghan man in a wheatfield in 2012.
The report said that 19 people should be investigated for their actions with Schulz believed to be the first arrest arising out of the inquiry.