The inquest findings into the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker will be handed down in Yuendumu on Monday, almost five years after the Warlpiri man died during a bungled arrest in the remote Northern Territory community.
Zachary Rolfe shot Walker three times while trying to arrest him on 9 November 2019 in Yuendumu, about 300km from Alice Springs.
Walker, 19, stabbed Rolfe with a pair of scissors shortly before he was shot by the then constable three times. Rolfe was found not guilty in March 2022 of charges of murder and manslaughter relating to Walker’s death.
He has since been dismissed from the force for matters not directly related to the shooting.
The inquest into Walker’s death was expected to be completed two-and-a-half years earlier.
Its delay has in part been due to legal challenges filed on behalf of Rolfe, including a failed bid for the NT coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, to recuse herself from the case, and wrangling over the scope of the inquest.
Latterly, and tragically, the release of the findings was delayed by a month because of the death of another Warlpiri man in police custody, Kumanjayi White, who was a cousin of Walker.
Armitage, senior counsel Peggy Dwyer SC, and instructor assisting Maria Walz, will all be involved in the White inquest, as they were in the three-year long Walker inquest.
Rolfe’s evidence before the inquest in February last year kicked off a series of revelations about racism within the NT police force, and again threatened to blow out the timeline for its findings to be delivered.
Rolfe outlined a catalogue of racism within the ranks, including a racist awards night within its elite tactical unit. The evidence resulted in the then NT police commissioner, Michael Murphy, admitting he had “gaslighted” Territorians.
Walker’s family said in a statement that they were calling for truth, accountability and justice, and believed that racism killed Walker. It said that it did not want NT police to travel to Yuendumu for the inquest findings with firearms.
“Kumanjayi’s death has devastated our community. We miss him and feel his loss deeply every single day, it will stain our country for generations to come,” Walker’s cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, said.
“The inquest into his death has been gruelling, shocking and devastating. Throughout it, our families and communities have stood strong, showed up and listened to all the ways that Kumanjayi was failed.
“We are heartbroken and exhausted after many long years, but we are hoping change is coming. We have faith that the truth will finally be told, and want to see real change so that we can finally start our healing.”
Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, a senior Warlpiri elder and White’s grandfather, said that NT police should not come to Yuendumu with guns.
“We are not interested in [acting commissioner] Martin Dole coming to Yuendumu just with empty words. If he is just coming to say sorry he is not welcome – how many times have they said sorry and still harmed us?
“During the inquest for Kumanjayi Walker we demanded no more guns in the community. If Dole comes with news of real change that would be different. If he said police would put down their guns like we wanted, yes, he would be welcome.
“Now, following the death in custody of my grandson Kumanjayi White, we have made additional demands: for an independent investigation and the release of CCTV footage, but police still deny us this, they are hiding the truth. We want real action, real justice, not more empty words.”
Dole said in a statement released on 30 May that while he offered sincere condolences for the death of White, he respectfully rejected calls for an independent investigation. Those calls had also been made by NT senator Malarndirri McCarthy.
“This incident is being investigated by our Major Crime Division, which operates under strict protocols and with full transparency,” Dole said.
“The investigation will also be independently reviewed by the NT Coroner, who has broad powers to examine all aspects of the incident and make findings without interference.”
Armitage is expected to hand down the findings about 10.45am NT time on Monday.
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