Police investigating if “any criminality was involved’ in Kumanjayi White death in custody
NT Police are investigating if “any criminality was involved” in the death in custody of a young Aboriginal man who was restrained to the ground by police in Alice Springs. See why his family say “all options” are on the table to access CCTV of the arrest.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NT Police are investigating if “any criminality was involved” in the death in custody of a young Aboriginal man who was restrained to the ground by two cops.
On Wednesday NT Police said the investigation was continuing into the death in custody of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White, after he was restrained by two plainclothes police officers at the Alice Springs Coles on Tuesday, May 27.
“This incident is being investigated by the Major Crime Section, which operates under strict protocols,” NT Police said.
“The coronial investigation has been paused, while the criminal investigation into the man’s death is undertaken to determine whether any criminality was involved.
“The coroner has been made aware of the decision and will be provided with regular updates as the criminal investigation progresses.”
As a result of the criminal investigation, NT Police have stated all evidence — including CCTV — would not be released until the criminal investigation had concluded.
A police spokesman said there was no timeline for this investigation, and the cause of Kumanjayi White’s death was still “undetermined”.
“The forensic pathologist is in the process of completing further investigation to ascertain the cause of death,” he said.
It comes as Kumanjayi White’s family has declared “all options” are on the table as their lawyers try to get access to footage from inside the Alice Springs Coles.
With NT Police ruling out an independent investigation, and yet to formally reply to a formal request by lawyers from the National Justice Project, chief executive George Newhouse said “all legal mechanisms” were being investigated to obtain footage from inside the supermarket.
“We’ve been told to investigate all options,” he said.
Mr Newhouse is representing the family of Kumanjayi White, a 24-year-old man from Yuendumu who died in Coles after he was restrained by plainclothes officers on Tuesday, May 27.
“The family have instructed their lawyers to investigate all legal mechanisms to ensure transparency and accountability,” he said.
In the wake of the death, Mr Newhouse sent a letter to NT Police, outlining four requests to them on behalf of the family.
The requests included: the release of CCTV footage inside Coles to family; that an independent body take over the investigation; that police stop making statements which “speculate on the cause of death or denigrate the character”; and police issue a correction and retraction around previous statements made about Kumanjayi White.
“The NT Police have not addressed the families concerns in any meaningful way,” Mr Newhouse said.
This masthead understands there have been meetings with barristers in Melbourne over other avenues to obtain footage from inside Coles.
In the wake of the death, NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole ruled out an independent investigation into the death of Mr White.
Senior Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, the grandfather of the young man, first made calls for an independent investigation in a statement released a day after the death.
The calls were repeated at a vigil which was held for the young man four days after his death, when his family returned to the supermarket giant in Alice Springs.
Kumanjayi White died in hospital 70 minutes after he was restrained by the plainclothes officers.
The plainclothes officers intervened due to an alleged altercation between a security guard and Mr White, NT Police said in the wake of the death.
He was restrained in aisle four – the lolly aisle – where a screen displays CCTV footage above the chocolate bar and chewing gum section, this masthead has observed.
A cause of death is yet to be determined, and as of writing no charges have been laid over the death.
Questions were sent to Coles and Talice Security if they had received a request from the lawyers representing Kumanjayi White’s family.
A Coles spokeswoman said “all relevant CCTV footage capturing the events leading up to and during the incident has been provided to police to support their investigation”.
This masthead received no response from Talice Security.
More Coverage
Originally published as Police investigating if “any criminality was involved’ in Kumanjayi White death in custody
Calls for independent investigation rise after Alice Springs death in custody
A rally will call for justice for a young Yuendumu man who died in custody – and for the officer allegedly involved to be ’stood down’.
NTES launch first regional training hub in Arnhem Land
NTES has launched its first regional training hub in Arnhem Land, marking a major step for the department. Read the details.