Yuendumu community members, and the family of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker, have asked for the opening days of the inquest into the teenager's death, which were due to take place in the remote Northern Territory community, to be relocated.
Kumanjayi Walker was shot and killed by Northern Territory Police officer Zachary Rolfe at Yuendumu on Walrpiri lands in Central Australia during an attempted arrest on 9 November 2019.
Constable Rolfe was acquitted of the teenager’s murder in March this year after a five-week Supreme Court trial in Darwin.
An inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death is due to start next month, and the first two days were to be held in Yuendumu.
At a third and possibly final directions hearing in Darwin, Counsel assisting the Coroner, Dr Peggy Dwyer, said the hearings in Yuendumu should not go ahead due to a “state of high conflict” in the community.
Dr Dwyer said the requests had come from the Brown, Walker, Lane and Robertson families who are all related to Kumanjayi Walker.
“Community members don’t feel comfortable having outsiders including journalists spending time in the community.”
Counsel representing Northern Territory Police Ian Freckleton QC told the Coroner that there had been a "particular incident" which had caused follow-on events.
Counsel Assisting the Coroner Dr Peggy Dwyer said the inquest should not commence in Yuendumu. Source: Supplied
"There is a mediation process which is ongoing and there is optimism that will result in an easing of tensions, and local police are involved in that process," he added.
Dr Dwyer said it will be "necessary” for Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to visit Yuendumu at some stage during the inquest.
"That may be an opportunity for engagement with the community in a less formal way – just because we are not doing that at the beginning does not close off that opportunity for the community and family.”
A 12-minute video message has also been recorded in Warlpiri to “assist the family and community to understand the inquest process” and is expected to be available on a website next week.
The inquest will also be live streamed to Yuendumu so the community can watch proceedings.
Constable Zachary Rolfe’s training, mental health and possible drug use will be examined by the Coroner. Source: AAP
Dr Dwyer's opening remarks are expected to be translated into the Warlpiri and Luritja languages.
Coroner Elisabeth Armitage agreed to scrap the opening days of the hearing at Yuendumu. The inquest will now commence in Alice Springs on 5 September and is expected to run for several months.
The final witness list is expected to be finalised this week and will include police officers.
The coroner will examine 54 main issues including if there is any evidence of systemic racism or cultural bias in the Northern Territory Police
She will also consider Constable Rolfe’s training, use of force, mental health or any drug use that may have affected his actions on the night Kumanjayi Walker was killed.
