NT officer murder trial set to be delayed

The highly anticipated trial of NT police constable Zachary Rolfe for the alleged murder of Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker is expected to be delayed due to the Covid crisis in NSW.

Zachary Rolfe leaves the NT Supreme Court in Darwin on Tuesday. Picture: Glenn Campbell

The highly anticipated trial of Northern Territory police constable Zachary Rolfe for the alleged murder of Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker is expected to be delayed due to the Covid crisis in New South Wales.

The trial was due to begin in Darwin on Monday and expected to last four to six weeks, but a spokesman for the NT Supreme Court on Wednesday confirmed a delay would be necessary.

The spokesman said Justice Dean Mildren would on Thursday likely adjourn the trial to a date yet to be fixed. His Honour would also refer several related matters of law for determination by the full court. The spokesman did not provide further details.

The delay was because prosecuting counsel had been affected by Covid-19 travel restrictions and could not make their way to Darwin, the spokesman said.

Philip Strickland SC, acting for the prosecution, revealed at a hearing earlier this month that he lived in a coronavirus hotspot. Justice Mildren remarked during the same hearing that he had been unable to organise travel for justices from the High Court.

The delay is likely to cause considerable anxiety for Constable Rolfe and for Walker’s relatives. Constable Rolfe is expected to plead not guilty, and his lawyers have indicated he is eager to clear his name.

Several of Walker’s relatives have also indicated they are keen to see the case go to trial. One of those interviewed recently expected several bus loads of people from Central Australia to arrive in Darwin this weekend.

Kumanjayi Walker died during a botched arrest attempt in the outback community of Yuendumu, about 300 km from Alice Springs. He stabbed Constable Rolfe in the shoulder with a pair of scissors before Rolfe shot him three times.