Zach Rolfe could face contempt probe over public statement, Kumanjayi Walker inquest hears

A ‘robust’ consequence would follow a ‘campaign’ by Zach Rolfe that appeared to ‘try to destabilise the NT Police force’, a lawyer for NT Police has told a coroner’s inquest.

Barrister for NT Police Ian Freckelton KC said comments made by Zach Rolfe last week were ‘nothing short of disgraceful and despicable’. Picture: Jason Walls

Zach Rolfe may have engaged in an “attempt to pervert the course of justice” after mounting a public “campaign” of “denigration and destabilisation” against the NT Police force, a court has heard.

The sensational allegations were aired in the Alice Springs Local Court on Monday as an inquest resumed into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, who was fatally shot by Constable Rolfe in 2019.

Constable Rolfe was acquitted on all charges by a Supreme Court jury in March last year after shooting the 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man three times during a botched arrest in Yuendumu.

On Monday, barrister for members of Mr Walker’s family, Andrew Boe, tendered a public statement released by Constable Rolfe last week he said contained “very false allegations about Kumanjayi” which “must be publicly refuted”.

“(They) are denigrating of him, they’re deplorable and hurtful to the family,” he said.

Mr Boe also took aim at Constable Rolfe’s mother, a practising Canberra lawyer, over comments she made on Facebook, referencing the letter and praising him for writing “so powerfully and with such strength”.

Mr Boe also tendered a newspaper article by political commentator Vikki Campion and an interview between the former Nationals staffer and Sky News host Peta Credlin, in which Ms Campion claimed to have “consulted” with Ms Rolfe before publication.

“Consideration should be given, by your honour or counsel assisting or others who are more appropriately placed to do so, to make a complaint about (Ms Rolfe’s) conduct in being associated with these publications to the ACT Law Society,” he said.

Mr Boe said Constable Rolfe’s comments also implied the inquest had been “influenced by a corrupt scheme”, and invited Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to refer them to the Director of Public Prosecutions “to investigate whether contempt proceedings should be brought against any individual or organisation”.

Zach Rolfe was the focus of attention during an inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker on Monday, despite having been earlier excused from testifying. Picture: Jason Walls

Speaking in support of Mr Boe’s submissions, counsel for NT Police, Ian Freckelton KC, said comments in Constable Rolfe’s statement were “deeply troubling from the point of view of any right thinking person”.

Dr Freckelton said one paragraph in particular, which made unsubstantiated allegations against Mr Walker, was “nothing short of disgraceful and despicable”.

“It imputes particular behaviours to Kumanjayi Walker for which there is no evidence whatever,” he said.

“It is an appalling slur on a deceased man.”

Mr Freckelton said among the “many problematic components” to Constable Rolfe’s statement was what “seems to be some kind of a campaign mounted on behalf of Mr Rolfe that he be praised for his conduct and be given a medal for it”.

“He is persisting in a campaign, it would appear, to try to destabilise the NT Police force,” he said.

“He imputes a variety of slurs against the executive, including that they’re narcissists, liars, cowards and similar, he describes one senior member of the NT Police force as a clown who’s taken over a castle.

“We don’t know whether the motive of Mr Rolfe is to try to intimidate the two members of the executive who are going to be giving evidence before you this week, (but) if that is his motive, it is an attempt to pervert the course of justice, it is a gross and blatant attempt to interfere with your inquest.”

Dr Freckelton said Constable Rolfe had already accepted disciplinary action for previous public comments and had been served with a fresh disciplinary breach notice as a result of the statement.

“There are grave concerns that so intransigent does Mr Rolfe appear to be that he appears to think that he can write or say anything, no matter how hurtful, in pursuit of some kind of campaign of denigration and destabilisation, and that regardless of what rules there are, what actions have been taken against him already, he can persist,” he said.

“In those circumstances, a robust consequence will follow.”

Constable Rolfe’s own lawyer, Luke Officer, said he would take instructions before making submission on the issues at a later time, which Ms Armitage indicated would be made available.

Originally published as Zach Rolfe could face contempt probe over public statement, Kumanjayi Walker inquest hears