Family asks to move first two days of Coronial inquest from Yuendumu

The opening days of the coronial inquest into slain teen, Kumanjayi Walker, has been moved to Alice Springs following ‘difficulties in the community’.

PLANS to hold the first two days of a Coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu have been scrapped.

The inquest is due to start on September 5 and the first two days were to be held in the community, where Walker was shot dead by Constable Zachary Rolfe during a botched arrest attempt on November 9, 2019.

But counsel assisting the coroner Peggy Dwyer told a directions hearing in Darwin on Monday community members no longer wanted the inquest held at Yuendumu.

“Recently counsel assisting has been informed by counsel for the Brown and Walker families that their position had changed,” Dr Dwyer said.

“They do not wish for the inquest to start in Yuendumu … because of difficulties being experienced in the community.”

She said the families also did not feel comfortable having journalists in the community.

“I know that is not the view of everybody in the community,” Dr Dwyer said.

“One Elder still wants the inquest to commence in Yuendumu but he is not represented here and recognises (his view is not the majority).”

Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage ahead of the Kumanjayi Walker inquest in September. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Coroner Elizabeth Armitage agreed to move the first two days of the inquest to Alice Springs.

The court was told a 12-minute video has been made in Warlpiri and Luritja explaining the Coronial inquest process.

The video will be posted on a dedicated website that has been created for the inquest that will be accessible from next week.

Opening addresses will also be translated into Walker’s community First Nations languages, Warlpiri and Lunitja and posted on the website.

Ms Armitage said she would still need to visit Yuendumu for a viewing at some point during the inquest.

Dr Dwyer said when this occurred it might be a good opportunity to have informal discussions with community members.

“(We) need to make every effort to make Coronials inclusive and to respect Aboriginal culture,” Dr Dwyer said.

“Every effort will be made to make these proceedings less intimidating and more open and inclusive.”

In March, a Supreme Court jury found Constable Rolfe not guilty of murder and the back-up charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death.