Aaron Bunch Journalist with Australian Associated Press | Collection of published work | + 61 484 008 119 | abunch@aap.com.au

Aaron Bunch
NT police block docs for Rolfe legal team

Northern Territory Police Force has refused to hand over reports about an officer charged with the shooting murder of an Indigenous man to his defence lawyer.

May 19, 2021

Northern Territory Police Force has refused to release information about an officer charged with the shooting murder of a young Indigenous man to his legal team.

Constable 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.

Rolfe’s defence lawyer, David Edwardson QC, says the NT police have failed to supply two reports about Rolfe’s service despite subpoenas being issued.

“They’re reports that were prepared in the context of the coroner’s inquiry but that nonetheless bear significantly on this question of, amongst many things, his training and the discharge of the relevant firearm,” he said on Wednesday.

“What is deeply disturbing is that it’s been brought to our attention about the existence of these reports and no disclosure had been made and we’ve had to force the issue.”

Mr Edwardson said the NT police had since agreed to supply redacted versions of the reports.

Their contents are likely to assist Rolfe’s defence team to counter expert prosecution evidence, such as the lawfulness of the shooting.

NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker’s lawyer, Mary Chalmers, said the police had filed documentation to block the release of some of the requested information on the basis of legal professional privilege.

Other less sensitive material would be handed to the court in the coming days, she said.

The parties will return to court on June 4 to argue access to the redacted information.

Rolfe’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.

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