Zachary Rolfe arrives in town ahead of murder trial

NT Police Officer Zachary Rolfe has arrived in Darwin from Canberra ahead of his murder trial later this month.

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NT POLICE Officer Zachary Rolfe has arrived in Darwin from Canberra ahead of his murder trial later this month, a court has heard.

Rolfe’s lawyer, Luke Officer, told the Darwin Supreme Court at a mention of the matter on Wednesday that his client and most of his legal team had already arrived in town ahead of the trial which is set to kick off on July 26.

Rolfe, who has been charged over the death of Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker, had previously been on bail in Canberra.

Crown prosecutor Phil Strickland SC, who lives in Sydney, also told the court he had made an application to NT Health for an exemption to travel to Darwin for pre-trial argument on July 19, but had not heard back.

As a result, he applied to appear via video link from Sydney.

Zachary Rolfe in 2019. Picture: Andrew Taylor

“We are barred from entering the NT. We made an application for an exemption … we haven’t received any response to the application” he said.

“We cannot appear in person in the Darwin Supreme Court now.”

Mr Strickland said the trial itself may have to be adjourned if Sydney remains a Covid hotspot.

“One solution might be we could adjourn the trial proper by a week,” he said. “The question will be whether adjourning for a week will make any difference.”

Acting Justice Dean Mildren said the chief health officer was currently not granting travel exemptions.

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“It is my understanding that there are currently no exceptions and there are no exemptions,” he said.

“The Chief Justice told me he attempted to get an exemption for the Chief Justice of the High Court without any success.”

“That doesn’t put us at an advantageous position,” Mr Strickland replied.

Mr Strickland said it would not be possible for him and his team to come early and quarantine in Howard Springs.

The matter will return to court on July 19.