Commander of NT Police’s Professional Standards Command boss in court on serious assault charge

A senior NT police officer who investigates the misconduct of her colleagues has allegedly been caught on camera assaulting a young woman in a small outback town.

NT Police officer Virginia Read.

A senior Northern Territory police officer who investigates the misconduct of her colleagues has allegedly been caught on camera assaulting a young woman in a small outback town.

The Darwin Local Court on Monday heard that Virginia Read, acting commander of NT Police’s Professional Standards Command, is accused of assaulting a young woman at Adelaide River on July 17 last year.

The 55-year-old, who was charged with aggravated assault in August over the alleged ­incident at the tiny highway town, about 115km south of Darwin, is expected to fight the charge.

Her lawyer, Ray Murphy, told Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris, during a directions hearing, that the matter would ­ultimately be determined by 5½ ­ minutes of mobile phone footage, according to the NT News.

“Frankly, it’s going to come down to the footage,” he said.

Ms Read was ­ordered to appear in court for her next hearing on July 18.

Before her arrest, she had been listed to give ­evidence at the coronial inquest into Kumanjayi Walker’s death where she was expected to testify about disciplinary matters involving Constable Zachary Rolfe.

Ms Read had taken repeated disciplinary action against Constable Rolfe after he fatally shot Walker at Yuendumu in November 2019.

Until at least September, she was the vice-president of Neighbourhood Watch NT but is no longer listed on their website.

NT Police did not respond to questions on Monday.