Court to receive brief of evidence and details of witnesses in Zachary Rolfe case
THE prospect of a suppression order has been mentioned during a court hearing relating to the murder charge over the death of an Aboriginal teenager who was allegedly shot by NT Police officer Zachary Rolfe
Northern Territory
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THE prospect of a suppression order has been mentioned during a court hearing relating to the murder charge over the death of an Aboriginal teenager who was allegedly shot by NT police officer Zachary Rolfe.
Local Court Judge John Birch said he read a letter from defence counsel Luke Officer together with an application that the prosecution gave consent to.
“I’m not given to making in Chambers orders but if I am to consider the issue of non-publication then I’ll need further material …” Judge Birch said.
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“Mr Rolfe, your bail is enlarged until Wednesday of next week and I’ll deal with the application that’s being sought on your behalf.”
Constable Zachary Rolfe was charged with murder over the alleged shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu in November last year.
The court also heard a brief of evidence is expected to be provided to the court in the coming weeks as well as a notice relating to witnesses.
Crown prosecutor Collette Dixon said the prosecution didn’t know how many witnesses the defence was going to call.
“But it may be that some of those witnesses may be agreed to in entirety by the Crown or it might be that there’s only a small argument in relation to a couple of them,” she said.
After the court hearing, Warlpiri elder and chairman on the Yuendumu Select Committee Ned Hargraves said members of the Yuendumu community were following the case very closely.
“All the community is following it and they are very, very anxious. They can’t wait to hear the next step,” he said.
“We want to have justice, the community wants it so that’s what we are looking forward to.”
Mr Hargraves also said he didn’t want guns in his community.
“In the communities we want no guns. Not only Yuendumu, right across Central Australia,” he said.
Rolfe’s bail was extended and the matter was adjourned to August 14 for a preliminary mention with the parties granted leave to appear by video link.
Originally published as Court to receive brief of evidence and details of witnesses in Zachary Rolfe case