Kumanjayi Walker’s relatives brace for coroner’s concluding document, urging for tangible measures | Indigenous Australians

The highly anticipated findings into the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker, in the remote Northern Territory community of Yuendumu, are scheduled to be released on Monday, nearly five years after the 19-year-old Warlpiri man’s death during a botched arrest. On November 9, 2019, Zachary Rolfe, then a constable, shot Walker three times after being stabbed with a pair of scissors by Walker. Rolfe was exonerated of murder and manslaughter charges in March 2022 and subsequently dismissed from the Northern Territory (NT) police force for unrelated reasons. The lengthy delay in the inquest’s completion has been attributed to legal challenges on behalf of Rolfe and the death of another Warlpiri man, Kumanjayi White, in police custody, who was Walker’s cousin. The inquest’s findings, involving senior counsel Peggy Dwyer and instructor assisting Maria Walz, are expected to address concerns over racism within the NT police force raised by Rolfe’s evidence of a racist awards night among its elite tactical unit. Walker’s family seeks truth, accountability, and justice, emphasizing their belief that racism was a contributing factor in his death and calling for the NT police to refrain from carrying firearms during the findings’ presentation. They express deep sorrow and Weariness but remain hopeful for genuine change. The senior Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, White’s grandfather, decries the NT police’s presence with firearms and demands independent investigations and the release of CCTV footage, arguing that empty apologies are insufficient. Acting Commissioner Martin Dole offers condolences but maintains that an internal investigation under strict protocols and an independent review by the NT Coroner are the appropriate courses of action. The findings are expected to be announced by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage at 10:45 AM NT time on Monday.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jul/06/kumanjayi-walker-family-coroner-final-report-yuendumu-northern-territory