The coroner in an inquest for an Indigenous teen shot dead by an NT policeman has taken part in a truth-telling session with grieving members of his community.

November 15, 2022

A remote Indigenous community has corrected the “lies” told after a Northern Territory policeman shot dead a beloved son during bungled outback arrest.

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 moved to the community on Monday so residents could meet Coroner Elisabeth Armitage for a truth-telling session.

Elder Robin Japanangka Granites told the gathering before media were asked to leave that much had been said about Mr Walker and Yuendumu in court “but we are here to tell you the truth”.

“There were eyewitnesses and they are here to tell what happened,” he said.

“It wasn’t those speeches that you heard in the court … It wasn’t anything to do with the truth that’s been coming out from all those lies.

“This is the first time that we are telling the truth about what happened to Kumanjayi … We are the ones that really knew him and loved him.

He said the community was “happy and proud and that had spoken and asked questions … and talked about the time when (Mr Walker died)”.

“Not the courts the police have been going through,” he said in reference to the murder trial where Const Rolfe was acquitted of killing Mr Walker.

“That was completely out of control.”

Mr Japanangka Granites said some of the evidence heard was untruthful and “something to do with their little stories”.

“We wanted to hear more of all the truth and that what’s been coming through.

“It’s been coming through the mouth of the people, who have been here listening and talking.”

The coroner had planned to start the inquest with a visit to Yuendumu in early September but it was scrapped after some in the community objected.

More than two months on, her presence and that of the legal parties, including Const Rolfe’s lawyer, Luke Officer, was welcomed.

The trip will conclude on Tuesday, with the inquest resuming in Alice Springs on Wednesday to hear Const Rolfe’s evidence.