Experts to testify on ‘potentially lethal’ scissors allegedly in the hand of teen shot by cop
A STRING police and experts will give evidence in a committal hearing in the case of a police officer accused of unlawfully killing a teenager in Yuendumu
Northern Territory
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A STRING of cops and medical experts will give evidence in a four-day committal hearing in the case of a police officer accused of unlawfully killing a teenager in Yuendumu last year.
Constable Zach Rolfe has indicated he will plead not guilty after being charged with murder over the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in November.
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On Thursday, the Alice Springs Local Court heard forensic pathologist Marianne Tiemensma would be given a chance to view body-worn footage of the incident before giving expert evidence in September.
Rolfe’s lawyer, David Edwardson QC, previously told the court Mr Walker was armed with a pair of scissors at the time which “could have inflicted a potentially lethal injury” to Rolfe.
In ruling Dr Tiemensma should appear at the hearing, judge John Birch said she had not previously expressed an opinion “specifically about scissors of their potential to inflict harm”.
“But noting Dr Tiemensma’s professional background, the doctor may be able to do so,” he said.
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“The witness should, in my opinion due to its contents and the nature of these proceedings as well as assisting to formulate an opinion based on that body-worn video, view (it) before giving evidence in the committal proceedings.”
The committal hearing is due to run for four days from September 1.
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