SA barrister David Edwardson QC to defend NT police officer Zach Rolfe, charged with murder of Aboriginal man Kumanjayi Walker
The NT police officer charged with murdering an Aboriginal man has hired SA’s top criminal barrister, David Edwardson QC, to defend him.
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Lawyers acting for the decorated police officer charged with murdering an Aboriginal man in Outback Northern Territory will seek to have the case shifted to Darwin because of the emotion-charged atmosphere in Alice Springs.
The application will be made in Alice Springs Magistrates Court on Thursday when Constable Zach Rolfe makes his first appearance, a month after he was sensationally charged with the murder of Kumanjayi Walker, 19, at remote Yuendumu, north of Alice Springs.
Protests are expected in Alice Springs, with additional police on standby as Yuendumu residents and Mr Walker’s family and supporters attend the directions hearing.
The Advertiser can also reveal South Australia’s top criminal barrister, David Edwardson QC has been engaged to defend Const Rolfe on the murder charge.
Kumanjayi Walker died after he was allegedly shot during an attempted arrest on November 9. Four days later, Const Rolfe, 28, was charged with murder – prompting questions from the NT police union and the Police Federation of Australia.
The incident sparked protests in the Aboriginal community at Yuendumu and in Alice Springs.
Const Rolfe was given bail after being charged and allowed to leave the NT to reside in Canberra with his family.
The application to shift the proceedings to Darwin is aimed at avoiding emotion-charged scenes and ensuring the case proceeds on more neutral ground.
The decision to charge Const Rolfe with murder – made in conjunction with the NT Director of Public Prosecutions – prior to the investigation being completed sparked concern among police across the country.
In the days after the shooting, PFA chief executive Scott Weber said Const Rolfe had the association’s full support.
“This has been a tragic incident, there has been a death, but in saying that too, we have a police officer whose life and career has been taken away from them as well,” Mr Weber said.
“Police officers go out there to protect the community every day. What is occurring now is police officers are going out on the street and they’re second-guessing themselves.’’
The NT Police investigation is being overseen by WA Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Anticich, who is already on secondment with NT Police. He is overseeing the investigation run by the Major Crime Squad and Professional Standards Command.
The NT police investigations are being oversighted by the NT Independent Commissioner Against Corruption, the Ombudsman and the coroner.
Mr Edwardson has mounted successful defences in many national and local high-profile criminal cases over the past decade.
In 2012, he successfully defended Perth barrister Lloyd Rayney, who was charged with the murder of his wife Corryn in 2007. He was acquitted after a lengthy trial.
In another high-profile case last year, Mr Edwardson successfully defended former state government bureaucrat Dr Jurgen Michaelis against abuse of public office charges following an ICAC investigation.