NT Police Constable James Kirstenfeldt to contest Territory’s chief psychiatrist‘s report finding him criminally responsible for actions

A policeman was so mentally distressed he was not legally responsible for drink driving and weapons offences, his lawyer has argued.

NT Police Constable James Lloyd Kirstenfeldt was suspended with pay in April 2024, after it was alleged the 40-year-old drove carelessly while under the influence in Darwin’s northern suburbs. Picture: (A)manda Parkinson

A Northern Territory police officer who was allegedly boozing behind the wheel and armed in public claims he was too mentally disturbed to be held responsible for his actions.

NT Police Constable James Lloyd Kirstenfeldt was suspended with pay in April 2024, after it was alleged the 40-year-old drove carelessly while under the influence in Darwin’s northern suburbs.

After being pulled over in Muirhead, Mr Kirstenfeldt then allegedly refused to provide a breath for analysis.

Constable James Kirstenfeldt outside the Alice Springs Local Court during an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Jason Walls

He was also charged with going armed in public and three counts of failing to meet storage requirements.

At the time of his arrest, NT Police said Mr Kirstenfeldt had been suspended with pay, pending further investigation.

On Thursday his defence barrister Luke Officer told Darwin Local Court Judge Stephen Geary he would fight a mental health report which concluded Mr Kirstenfeldt was responsible for his actions.

Defence barrister Luke Officer. Picture: Gera Kazakov

The Territory’s chief psychiatrist concluded while Mr Kirstenfeldt had a mental illness at the time of the alleged offence, it “would not have materially contributed to the conduct”.

However Mr Officer said he intended to get medical evidence to prove his client was not criminally responsible for his conduct.

Mr Geary adjourned the matter for a half-day hearing on January 30, to allow Mr Officer to attempt to contest the chief psychiatrist’s report.

Mr Kirstenfeldt was one of four Immediate Response Team members deployed to Yuendumu in 2019, when 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker was fatally shot by then-Constable Zach Rolfe.

Mr Rolfe was acquitted on all charges and Mr Kirstenfeldt was not accused of any wrongdoing in the Yuendumu incident.