Our Team

Kristin ShortenInvestigative Journalist

Kristin Shorten is an award-winning investigative journalist who began her media career at The Courier-Mail newspaper and reported for various News Corp mastheads before joining The Australian. Kristin has written, produced and directed documentaries including Voodoo Medics, The Boy in the Blue Cap and Yuendumu. She has also written, produced and hosted podcasts including Voodoo Medics, My name is Cleo and Yuendumu: The Trial. In 2019 Kristin was named West Australian Journalist of the Year for her investigation into the death of Father Joseph Tran and has twice been named West Australian Freelance Journalist of the Year for her work on the unsolved murder of Gerard Ross. In 2022 she won a News Award and NT Media Award for her reporting on the fatal police shooting of Kumanjayi Walker at Yuendumu. Contact Kristin here: shortenk@theaustralian.com.au

Latest

ZACHARY ROLFENation

## EXCLUSIVE for The Australian ONLY ## 04-12-19 - Constable Zach Rolfe, 28, charged with one count of murder over the death of indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendumu. Picture By Ryan Osland

‘I got ya, brother’: how the Zach Rolfe shooting went down

For the first time, a detailed account of the heart-stopping drama as cops fought to save the life of Indigenous teen Kumanjayi Walker.

Kristin Shorten

ZACHARY ROLFE TRIALNation

NT Police body-cam footage showing Kumanjayi Walker threatening police with an axe the day before he was shot by police officer Zachary Rolfe.

Kumanjayi Walker’s family told cops where to find him

Kumanjayi Walker attacked police with an axe three days before he was fatally shot by cop Zach Rolfe. Now the details of that axe attack can be revealed for the first time.

Kristin Shorten

EXCLUSIVENation

Detectives warned against hasty murder rap

Senior police were strongly opposed to the decision to charge cop Zachary Rolfe with murder, in previously unseen documents revealed by The Australian.

Kristin Shorten

ZACHARY ROLFE DOCUMENTARYNation

Zach Rolfe documentary exclusive

Watch The Australian’s gripping documentary on cop Zachary Rolfe after his murder acquittal over the shooting of Indigenous teen Kumanjayi Walker.

Kristin Shorten

ZACHARY ROLFE TRIALNation

‘I did what I had to do’: Zachary Rolfe interview exclusive

Defiant cop Zachary Rolfe reveals for the first time what happened the night he shot Indigenous man Kumanjayi Walker – and why he believes police lied about the case.

Kristin Shorten

EXCLUSIVENation

Private schoolboy fell in love with policing ‘to help people’

A child of privilege, Zachary Rolfe couldn’t wait to get into the heat of battle, first in the army and then in policing.

Kristin Shorten

ZACHARY ROLFE INTERVIEWNation

I’m no racist. If a white guy stabbed me I’d shoot him too.

The Australian has the only interview with NT police officer Zachary Rolfe, who spoke with Kristin Shorten shortly after he was charged. WATCH THE VIDEO

Kristin Shorten

YUENDUMU TRIALNation

Police bodyworn camera worn by Constable Adam Eberl captures the moment his partner, Constable Zachary Rolfe, shoots Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker. The video of the shooting has been played to a Darwin jury in Constable Rolfe's murder trial.

Moment cop shoots teen

The moment Constable Zachary Rolfe shot Indigenous teenager Kumanjayi Walker in the remote outback community of Yuendumu has been played to a jury in court in Darwin.

Kristin Shorten

indigenous death in custodyNation

Zach Rolfe and his legal team arrive at the Supreme Court in Darwin on July 21 ahead of his trial for the alleged murder of Yuendumu teenager Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Jason Walls

High Court narrows ‘good faith’ defence

The High Court has narrowed the defences available to Zachary Rolfe at his murder trial over the death of Kumunjayi Walker.

Olivia Caisley and Kristin Shorten

EXCLUSIVENation

Cop charged with fresh counts

Police officer Zachary Rolfe is facing two new criminal charges, just weeks out from his murder trial over an outback shooting.

Kristin Shorten

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/kristin-shorten/page/24