Zach Rolfe’s father ‘intimidated’ witness in murder trial: Crown

Prosecutors alleged Zach Rolfe’s father accosted one of their key witnesses in a Supreme Court toilet while the other man was giving evidence in Constable Rolfe’s murder trial.

PROSECUTORS alleged Zach Rolfe’s father accosted one of their key witnesses in a Supreme Court toilet while the other man was giving evidence in Constable Rolfe’s murder trial, it can now be revealed.

Zach Rolfe was acquitted on all charges last week after a five week trial following the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker during an attempted arrest in Yuendumu in 2019.

On March 1, Crown prosecutor Philip Strickland SC was conducting his examination-in-chief of police use-of-force expert, Senior Sergeant Andrew Barram, when Justice John Burns took the morning adjournment.

When the lawyers returned to court, but while the jury were still out of the room, Mr Strickland told Justice Burns he had a matter to raise before the trial resumed.

“I’m instructed that during the break, and I’m glad that your honour provided that break, Senior Sergeant Barram was in the toilet,” he said.

Zach Rolfe’s father Richard outside court. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“He was spoken to by the accused’s father, who commented on his evidence, and stared at him, in what was described as an intimidating manner.

“I’d simply ask your honour to warn everyone in court, that they ought not to speak to any witness who’s giving evidence in court.”

Mr Strickland said he was also “concerned, as a general backdrop, which I won’t go into, about various matters in relation to the attempt to intimidate this witness”.

Mr Strickland did not elaborate on those matters and Justice Burns moved on with the trial.

“Without in any way commenting upon the rights or wrongs of the suggestion that’s been made by the Crown about the particular incident, it is of course, important that all witnesses be able to give their evidence freely, and without any suggestion of interference or intimidation,” he said.

Senior Sergeant Andrew Barram. Picture: Julianne Osborne

Richard Rolfe said Sgt Barram had entered the bathroom while he was already in there and his only interaction with him was when the police officer held the door for him as he left.

“I said ‘thank you’ to the bloke for holding the door open,” he said.

“I didn’t know that (Sgt) Barram had (come) in and those were the only words.”

Richard Rolfe said he didn’t think he was an intimidating person, joking that Sgt Barram had 30 years of martial arts experience with five black belts while he had “30 years of Scrabble”.

The details of the exchange between Richard Rolfe and Sgt Barram can now be revealed after a suppression order was lifted by Justice Burns on Friday.