NT cop charged with murder of Kumanjayi Walker returns to Canberra for family
Australians are up in arms after the Northern Territory policeman charged with murder for the death of Kumanjayi Walker has been allowed to return to his family home.
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The Northern Territory police officer charged with murder over allegedly shooting and killing an indigenous man at the weekend has returned to Canberra to be with his family – sparking outrage nationwide.
More than 1000 indigenous Australians protested the death of Kumanjay Walker, 19, in Alice Springs on Thursday, who was allegedly shot and killed by Constable Zachary Rolfe at Yuendumu on Saturday.
The shooting has caused a rift between the indigenous community and police in the NT, who claim Walker lunged at Constable Rolfe with a weapon. However, Walker’s family disputes this.
It is the worst rupture in relations since Cameron Mulrunji Coomadgee’s death in custody on Queensland’s Palm Island in 2004.
Accused attacker Chris Hurley, who was then a police sergeant, face trial for manslaughter but was aquitted. As a result, residents of the island off Townsville rioted.
The shooting has also become a flashpoint for anger over the treatment of Aboriginal people by police, including deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations.
Those attending the Alice Springs rally on Thursday heard from NT Independent Commisisoner Against Corruption (ICAC) Ken Fleming QC, who has oversight over the NT Police investigation into the shooting.
He said the most important message of the day was Black Lives Matter.
Many of those marching were indigenous Warlpiri people, who travelled from various remote communities to be in attendance.
Their protest follows many others held across the nation this week, including rallies in Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide.
After being released on bail on Wednesday on murder charges of Walker’s death, Constable Rolfe has returned to his family home in Canberra.
Constable Rolfe, who was suspended with pay, is due to face court in Alice Springs on December 19, and will plead not guilty and “vigorously contest the charge”, according to NT Police Association President Paul McCue.
Walker died after Constable Rolfe, a former army member who served in Afghanistan, and another officer went to arrest him for breaching the terms of his prison release last month.
He had served eight months for property stealing offences.
Footage from the officers’ body-worn cameras is currently being examined by police internal investigators.
Federal indigenous affairs minister Ken Wyatt, who attended the Alice Springs rally on Thursday, said his focus was on the safety and wellbeing of those closest to the incident.
“Now is not the time for blame,” he said.
“The community of Yuendumu is in a lot of pain right now. It is a priority that they are supported to return to normal, to make sure kids are going to school, they have the healthcare they need, they are receiving critical services.”
Mr Wyatt added he had been in touch with NT chief minister Michael Gunner about the incident and the government’s response.
However, emotions continue to run high among indigenous people, who are asking why Rolfe failed to use another method – a taser or pepper spray instead of firing his gun three times – to subdue Walker.
Tensions are also high within the police community, where there is anger among some rank-and-file police officers over the laying of a murder charge against Rolfe so quickly.
There are suggestions it was politically motivated move and done as a result of protests.
Constable Rolfe, who is from a prominent Canberra family, was a star pupil at Canberra Grammar and joined the NT Police force in 2016.
Within days of graduating from the police college, while a probationary constable, Constable Rolfe saved the lives of two tourists who had been swept into floodwaters in Alice Springs. His efforts that day earned him the National Bravery Medal, the Royal Humane Society’s Clarke Medal for bravery and the Hong Kong government’s Bronze Medal for Bravery, the first time Hong Kong authorities have awarded the city-state’s highest bravery award to a foreigner for an act performed outside of Hong Kong.
Constable Rolfe’s father, Richard Rolfe, and his mother Debbie Rolfe, have received Order of Australia medals.
His father sits on the Australia Day Council, runs the capital’s Audi car dealership and sponsors the Canberra Raiders in the NRL.
His mother chairs the Canberra Hospital Foundation and is a partner at law firm Maliganis Edwards Johnson.
The general manager of Mr Rolfe’s Audi dealership, Nicholas Watman, said on Wednesday the family had been told not to comment until after investigations were over.
Mr Rolfe had taken time off work and would be keeping a low profile in coming weeks in support of his son, Mr Watman said.
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Constable Rolfe is well respected among his current and former colleagues, one of whom told the NT News this week the incident amounted to a “worst nightmare” scenario for all frontline police.
The NT News reported multiple Alice Springs police called in sick in the hours after Constable Rolfe was charged.
An NT Police spokesman said it was supporting Constable Rolfe and his family this week.
The spokesman said the family was “very upset” and were advised not to comment publicly.
Walker was released from prison on October 21 over property and stealing offences but was being rearrested for breaching the terms of his release. Police had allowed Mr Walker to attend the funeral of a relative earlier that day.
There were no medical staff to initially help after the shooting as Yuendumu Health Centre workers evacuated earlier on Saturday due to safety concerns.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service also delayed its response amid safety concerns before it was called off because the young man died.
Staff from Yuelamu Health Centre 60km away were injured after going to Yuendumu following the shooting and assisting in pronouncing Mr Walker dead.
They were injured in community unrest and required evacuation to receive treatment for lacerations and bruises at the Alice Springs Hospital.
Emotions are running high among indigenous people in the NT and around the nation and the death has been a flashpoint for anger over the treatment of Aboriginal people by police, including deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations.
A statement from the NT Police Association said it continued to support Constable Rolfe.
“The NTPA is continuing to support out member who has this evening been charged with murder, as well as his family, and all other officers involved in the critical incident at Yuendumu on Saturday 9 November,” the statement read.
“The officer who has been charged is being provided all appropriate legal advice and support at this difficult time.”