A Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager said he “feels very confident” as he arrived for the first day of his trial.

February 7, 2022

A Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager said he was “feeling very confident” as he arrived at court.

Constable Zachary Rolfe, 30, has pleaded not guilty to the shooting murder of Kumanjayi Charles Arnold Walker in November 2019.

The 19-year-old died after he was shot three times in the remote community of Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs.

As he arrived at the Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday a calm looking Rolfe told reporters he was “feeling very confident”.

“It’s taken a while,” he said as he purposely strode towards the court with more than a dozen supporters and members of his legal team.

“Trying to get started for over two years.

“Good it has finally started.”

Legal argument preceded eight men and six women being selected as jurors.

Earlier, one of the largest jury pools called in the territory was ushered into court.

They were needed due to the close links many of those involved in the trial have with the community and the expectation dozens would need to be excused.

All the potential jurors were also warned they would be exposed to confronting material, with those who believed they would have difficulties told they could go.

Other excuses given included language difficulties, business commitments and even one man saying he had just received a message telling him a member of his household had tested positive to COVID-19.

Jurors have also had to show a certificate of vaccination.

Rolfe’s trial is likely to run for about a month with about 50 witnesses and experts.

The jury will sit from 9.30am until 1.15pm each day – instead of the usual 10am to 4pm – to “reduce the chance of people catching the virus”, a court spokesperson said.

Sitting for less than four hours a day will also help prevent jury members from being deemed close contacts and having to isolate if someone becomes infected.

Inside the court, the jury has been divided with 10 jurors on one side of the room and four in the witness box.

Rolfe is sitting in the public gallery behind his defence team.

His trial has been postponed three times – twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first postponement was in July when the Crown’s interstate prosecution team was unable to travel to the NT from Sydney due to NT COVID-19 border restrictions.

The second was in mid-August when parts of the Top End were locked down after a virus outbreak in Darwin.

The most recent delay in late August was due to a High Court challenge over Rolfe’s proposed defence.

A large contingent of media has converged on the court from across Australia with pre-trial news stories appearing internationally, including in the Washington Post.

Rolfe is charged with murder, with alternative counts of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death.

He is being defended by David Edwardson QC while Philip Strickland SC will prosecute for the Crown.

The prosecution opening is likely to start on Tuesday.