Christina Schmid, a high-profile Afghanistan war widow who became a national figure campaigning for military families, has been charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice.
Court Appearance and Charges
The 50-year-old from Ivybridge, Devon, appeared via videolink at Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court. She was informed that both charges against her must be heard in a crown court.
The first charge alleges that between 31 January 2021 and 30 June 2021, she committed an act or series of acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice in connection with a statement provided to the family court.
The second charge relates to willfully making a false statement while sworn in as a witness in judicial proceedings between 14 April 2020 and 30 June 2021.
Schmid was released on conditional bail and is scheduled to appear at Exeter Crown Court on 16 January 2026.
A National Figure Following Tragedy
Christina Schmid's public profile was forged in tragedy. Her husband, Staff Sergeant Olaf 'Oz' Schmid, a bomb disposal expert, was killed in Afghanistan in 2009 while defusing a Taliban improvised explosive device (IED). He died instantly in the explosion, the day before he was due to return to the UK.
Following his death, Schmid campaigned vigorously for the rights of war widows and serving personnel. She called for better pensions, higher armed forces salaries, and urged politicians to "fight as hard as Olaf did" for peace.
Her efforts led her to meet the Queen and then-Prime Minister David Cameron. She also authored a best-selling memoir and received the George Cross on her husband's behalf in a private ceremony.
Personal Life and Later Years
In the years after her loss, Schmid's personal life remained in the public eye. In 2012, she announced a new relationship with another serving soldier, Mark Clarke, featured in Hello! magazine, stating she had her late husband's blessing. That relationship ended in June 2019.
Just over a year later, she married property developer Adam Plumb in an intimate ceremony at Bovey Castle, Devon. In 2021, the couple purchased an eight-bedroom property in Ivybridge for £1.3 million. They have since separated.
Schmid had previously sold her husband's medals, including the George Cross, to Lord Ashcroft. They were displayed in the Ashcroft Gallery at the Imperial War Museum until recently.
The charges mark a stark new chapter for the mother-of-two, whose earlier life was defined by advocacy born from profound personal sacrifice.
