A Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager intended to kill or serious harm him when he pulled the trigger, the Crown says.

February 7, 2022

A Northern Territory policeman accused of murdering an Aboriginal teenager intended to kill or serious harm him when he pulled the trigger, a court has been told.

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 outback community of Yuendumu, 290km northwest of Alice Springs.

Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC says Rolfe fired his first shot 60 seconds after finding Mr Walker at a home in the community of about 800.

It hit the middle of Mr Walker’s back but did not kill him and he continued to struggle with Rolfe’s partner while holding a pair of scissors.

Less than three seconds later, Rolfe fired two more shots into Mr Walker while he was on the ground with the other officer on top of him.

“The crown case is the accused deliberately fired the three shots at Kumanjayi Walker,” Mr Strickland told the Supreme Court in Darwin on Monday.

He said the rapid discharge of shots was called a “double tap” and designed to inflict the maximum damage and “not reasonable” because Mr Walker was “on the ground and restrained”.

“When the accused fired second and third shots he intended to kill Kumanjayi Walker, or cause him serious harm.”

Earlier, Rolfe said he was “feeling very confident” when he arrived at court.

“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.”

Earlier, one of the largest jury pools called in the territory was ushered into court before eight men and six women were selected as jurors.

The large pool was required 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.

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.