Coroner defers delivering findings in Walker inquest for sorry business in Yuendumu

Findings for one of the Northern Territory’s longest running inquests have been deferred by the Coroner, as Yuendumu grieves another death in custody.

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage visits Yuendumu during an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Outside house 511. L-R counsel assisting Maria Walz and Peggy Dwyer wiht Coroner Elisabeth Armitage. Picture: Jason Walls

The Northern Territory Coroner has deferred delivering her findings in the Kumanjayi Walker inquest, as a remote community heads into sorry business over an unrelated death in custody.

Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has confirmed she has deferred the date of the findings, which were due to be handed down on June 10 in Yuendumu, by a month following the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White on May 27.

“This request was made following the passing of Kumanjayi White in Alice Springs last week, due to the need for grieving and sorry business by the Yuendumu community and the families,” a spokesman for the Coroner’s office said.

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage visits Yuendumu during an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Jason Walls

The findings in the long-running Kumanjayi Walker inquest will now be handed down on July 7, however, a location is yet to be confirmed.

Ms Armitage has been examining the death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, who was killed during an arrest in Yuendumu in 2019.

Mr Walker was shot by NT police constable Zachary Rolfe.

A Supreme Court trial in 2022 acquitted Mr Rolfe of a murder charge.

The inquest has heard allegations of racism within the NT Police Force, while police have labelled Mr Rolfe “a racist” – an allegation his lawyer Luke Officer called an “extrapolation” at closing submissions in at the inquest in November last year.

“Your honour should be careful not to single out Mr Rolfe,” Mr Officer said to Ms Armitage in November during closing submissions.

Ms Armitage was due to hand down her findings within Yuendumu.

Police inside Coles in Alice Springs. A man has died inside Alice Springs Coles on May 27, 2025, with police saying he was in custody at the time. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Mr White, also from Yuendumu, died on Tuesday after he was restrained by plainclothes police officers inside Coles in Alice Springs.

The 24-year-old is the second death in custody for the community of Yuendumu in six years.

Senior Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, one of Mr White’s grandfathers, previously indicated he wanted the Walker findings postponed.

The findings will now be handed down in either Yuendumu or Alice Springs, “depending upon the wishes of the community,” the spokesman for the Coroner’s Office said.

Senior Warlpiri Elder Ned Hargraves alongside family of a 24-year-old man from Yuendumu at a vigil outside Coles in Alice Springs on May 30, 2025. The young man who died in custody on May 27, 2025, was Mr Hargraves grandson. Picture: Gera Kazkov

NT Police have indicated the death of Kumanjayi White will be referred to the Coroner.

So far, police have not released the 24-year-old’s cause of death, with an autopsy proving inconclusive.

A forensic pathologist is investigating, but as of Monday lunchtime, the cause of death remained unknown.

No charges have been laid against the officers involved in the arrest of Kumanjayi White by police, who have also rejected calls by the family for an independent investigation.