An inquest for an Indigenous teenager has examined homophobic text messages sent by the policeman that shot him dead during a botched arrest.

October 28, 2022

A Northern Territory police constable’s homophobic text messages have been read into evidence at an inquest examining Northern Territory police culture and an Indigenous teen’s shooting death.

Kumanjayi Walker, 19, died after Constable Zachary Rolfe shot him three times during a bungled arrest in Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs on November 9, 2019.

An Alice Springs inquest into his death on Thursday heard that in the days before the shooting Const Rolfe messaged his colleagues and mates about a night out using homophobic terms.

The text read: “Might head to Monty’s or somewhere gay tomorrow for a few beers if you’re keen to be fags”.

His mate and fellow police officer, Constable Mitchell Hansen, replied: “I have youth (group) tomorrow at 5.30pm but if you’re out afterwards I’ll be a fag with you”.

Const Hansen, who is now a member of the NT’s elite police tactical response unit, told the coroner he was disappointed in himself for sending it.

“I didn’t fully sort of understand … how much power my words have,” he said from the witness box.

“It’s embarrassing I would refer tot he youth group where I’m a leader … I should be better than that.”

He said he didn’t have homosexual friends growing up and the language had been “meaningless” to him.

He agreed with counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer that using homophobic terms normalised them and desensitised people to their negative impact.

“These text messages are out there for everyone to see …it has an impact on the people I love and care about,” he said.

The inquest heard Const Hansen and Const Rolfe also exchanged racist text massages.

In one, Const Hansen used the word n***** to describe Aboriginal people in the town of Borroloola.

It’s one of multiple racist text messages that the inquest has heard Const Rolfe and other officers sent each other in the months before Mr Walker was shot dead.

Const Hansen, who grew up in an Indigenous community, said it broke his heart to think his friends would hear his evidence.

“I’m just truly sorry … I’m so apologetic the words I used describing those guys … It just embarrassed me,” he said after another of his text messages, which used racist language to describe Indigenous community members in the town of Wadeye, was read to the court.

“They’re good people and that obviously don’t deserve to be treated that way.”

The inquest continues on Friday.