Zach Rolfe: Murder trial venue ruling reserved after hearing details suppressed

Constable Zach Rolfe’s trial over the alleged murder of Yuendumu teen Kumanjayi Walker could still be held in Alice Springs after a judge reserved his decision on moving it to Darwin.

Constable Zach Rolfe is due to face trial in July.

• Constable Zach Rolfe’s lawyers apply to have murder trial held in Darwin
• NT police officer Zach Rolfe to face trial in Supreme Court for alleged murder of Kumanjayi Walker

A JUDGE has reserved his decision on whether to move the murder trial of Constable Zach Rolfe from Alice Springs to Darwin after suppressing the details of a two-hour hearing on the application on Friday.

Rolfe was charged with murder after the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu last year and was committed to stand trial in the Supreme Court in October.

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His lawyer, David Edwardson QC, applied to have the trial moved from Alice Springs to Darwin last month due to “pre-trial publicity” and Justice Dean Mildren heard arguments on the application on Friday.

Mr Edwardson applied for the entire proceeding to be suppressed but after hearing submissions from the media, Justice Mildren agreed to allow the publication of tightly prescribed details.

In the parts of the hearing that remain unsuppressed, Mr Edwardson told the court the publicity contained “significant inaccuracies” and was “mischievous and inflammatory”.

But in her reply, Crown prosecutor Sophie Callan SC, argued the shooting was “captured on live body-worn footage which would counter any prejudice” to Rolfe at his trial.

Ms Callan said any concerns Rolfe’s legal team had about his personal safety if the trial were held in Alice Springs could be adequately mitigated and noted there was no concerning behaviour by members of the public during the committal hearing.

Justice Mildren will likely rule on the application to move proceedings before the end of the year but indicated his reasons will not be publicly released until after the trial.

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The case will return to court for a pre-trial mention in February with the trial due to commence on July 19.

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