The trial of Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe, who is charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man, could be webcast on YouTube.

February 23, 2021

The trial of a Northern Territory police officer charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man could be broadcast on YouTube.

Zachary Rolfe, 29, is accused of shooting Kumanjayi Walker three times in the remote community of Yuendumu in November 2019 as officers tried to arrest the 19-year-old.

The constable’s trial is expected to run for four weeks in July in Darwin, about 1500 kilometres from Yuendumu, which has a population of about 800 people.

The NT Supreme Court is considering if it will permit the trial to be broadcast to the tiny town and the Alice Springs Courthouse.

“What is contemplated in that respect is that the proceedings would be broadcast over YouTube,” Chief Justice Michael Grant said on Tuesday.

“There would be a facility set up in the school (hall at Yuendumu).”

Chief Justice Grant said a facilitator would shut down the broadcast whenever the court was closed or arguments were being made without the jury.

Witnesses would still give evidence from the local police station by audiovisual link or from Alice Springs Courthouse, he said.

Rolfe’s defence lawyer, David Edwardson QC, raised concerns about the use of YouTube, saying it could be a problem if witnesses watch the trial before they give evidence.

Chief Justice Grant said he would be able to make an order to prevent this and a police officer could be placed in Yuendumu school to enforce it.

Crown prosecutor Sophie Callan SC asked if access to the broadcast could be restricted to prevent people outside the school from watching it.

“Whilst the facilitator at Yuendumu may be in a position to control what occurs and what can be seen at that end,” she said.

“It’s not clear to me that would prevent other individuals accessing the YouTube video for their own purposes.”

Chief Justice Grant said he would ask the Director of Courts and Tribunals about the technical details and report back to the lawyers at the next pre-trial hearing on March 31.

He also reminded the parties that any member of the public is entitled to come into court and watch the proceedings.

“What’s the difficulty with them watching it by public access broadcast?” he asked.

Rolfe was ordered to stand trial for murder after a preliminary hearing in Alice Springs in 2010.

His trial shifted to Darwin following a request from his defence team in December.

He was suspended from the police force with pay after he was charged with murder following Mr Walker’s death.

He was part of a four-member elite Immediate Response Team that drove 290 kilometres from Alice Springs into the Tanami Desert to arrest Mr Walker.