NT policeman Zach Rolfe charged with murder of Kumanjayi Walker to plead not guilty

The policeman charged with murder over the shooting death of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker intends to plead not guilty.

Constable Zach Rolfe.

The officer charged with murder over the police shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker intends to plead not guilty, the Northern Territory police union head has revealed.

NT Police Association president Paul McCue said in a short statement on Thursday that 28-year-old constable Zachary Rolfe would vigorously contest the charges.

READ MORE: ‘Remember the oath’: NT police commissioner’s plea

“While we acknowledge the tragic circumstances of the event, the member has made it clear that he will plead not guilty and will vigorously contest the charge,” Mr McCue said.

“He, like all, has the presumption of innocence in his favour.”

Constable Rolfe and his family had the “complete support the NTPA”, as did other officers who put their lives at risk daily to protect the community from violence.

Incoming NT Police Commissioner Jame Chalker appealed to his officers to “remember the oath” and maintain integrity and fairness amid a tragedy that has divided the community.

“My police force’s strength is only as strong as my weakest link,” Commissioner Chalker said.

Kumanjayi Walker. Picture: Facebook

“I need all my officers to step to the fore, to trust one another, to trust in the process, to remember the oath that they took and the importance of integrity, ethics and fairness.”

He said he knew his officers were “hurting”.

“I know you have questions. The community has questions,” Commissioner Chalker said.

“Those questions will be answered in the fullness of time, without emotion, with objectivity and now, it appears, through the processes of the court.”

The news comes as hundreds of people gathered in Alice Springs to protest the shooting and call for greater respect of Aboriginal culture.

Speakers from Kumanjayi Walker’s Warlpiri tribe said Constable Rolfe’s trial should be held in Yuendumu.

Warlpiri leader Harry Nelson told The Australian that many locals were outraged that the young officer had been granted bail in an out-of-session court hearing when he thought Aboriginal offender would be likely to remain in jail.

“I’m really disappointed,” Mr Nelson said.

“If it was an Aboriginal person, we have no money — they would never have allowed that (bail).”

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said it was a “time of high emotion”.

“What I ask for, right here, right now, is that everyone remains respectful to each other,” Mr Gunner said.

“We cannot and will not let this divide us.”

Mr Gunner refuted suggestions made on social media that the Territory was a “racist” place.

“One-third of our Northern Territory is indigenous, over a third of our Northern Territory people are born overseas,” he said.

“I believe that we have a great resilience in the NT, and that is built from our diversity.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White acknowledged the people who had held peaceful marches and vigils and asked that that be maintained.

Police shot Kumanjayi Walker at a residence in Yuendumu, 300km northwest of Alice Springs, after two officers tried to arrest him on Saturday.

Senior police have said Walker “lunged” at the officers and injured one of them with an “edged weapon” before he was shot. Eyewitnesses have disputed that account.

The incident is now the subject of investigations involving NT Police, the NT Coroner, NT Ombudsman, NT Commissioner Against Corruption and a police professional standards body.

Mr Nelson said locals no longer trusted those authorities and wanted an outside inquiry done by people who were not part of the NT government.