Former NT police officer Zachary Rolfe will be forced to give evidence at the Kumamjayi Walker coronial inquest after he lost his appeal against a Supreme Court decision, with the judges finding his claim of protection from giving evidence by way of a “penalty privilege” was not covered under the Coroners Act.
The NT Court of Appeal delivered its judgement on Wednesday, agreeing with Justice Judith Kelly’s Supreme Court’s conclusion that substantial changes to section 38 of the Coroners Act took away witnesses’ ability to refuse to given evidence on the basis of the fear of self-incrimination, which was replaced by an immunity certificate, did not at the same time allow witnesses the right to refuse to give evidence on the basis that their evidence could lead to disciplinary and other civil penalties.
I would think that the High Court might like to have a look at this.
What you dont trust the legal opinion of some Territory Yokel Locals who work for the Government???
Could be an interesting part of the coronials proceedings. So far it seems to have been a witch hunt on racist police and an attempt by upper ranks to justify their behaviour over the prosecution of the case against Rolfe.