NT Police say an investigation into the death of a 24-year-old disabled Warlpiri man who died after being restrained by two plainclothes police officers at an Alice Springs supermarket last May will not proceed to court with charges, following advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The death will still be subject to a coronial inquiry with a directions hearing scheduled for June 15, while the official cause of death has still not been disclosed.

Kumanjayi White’s family released a statement Tuesday expressing their anger and disappointment with the decision not to pursue charges, stating the police hastily visited Kumanjayi’s mother in Lajamanu by police air wing to inform her and the family no charges would be laid.

“We have got no hope. When will we have our justice? How can we keep living like this?” the family said in the statement via ABC.

“Today the police turned up in Lajamanu with the Acting Director of Public Prosecutions [Patrick Williams] and told the family that they are not proceeding with any charges.

“With hardly any notice, without asking permission, they just turned up in Lajamanu with their police plane.”

NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said he recently received formal advice from the DPP not to pursue charges after handing them a brief of evidence last September.

“Following consideration of all available evidence, including the independent expert report, the DPP formed the view that there was no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution,” he said at an Alice Springs press conference.

“Every effort was made to ensure the investigation was appropriately resourced and conducted in a thorough and fair manner.

“This outcome will cause significant distress, pain and anger for Kumanjayi White’s family, for many Aboriginal people across Central Australia and the Territory, and for members of the broader community.”

Mr Dole initially refused to bring in an independent body to investigate the death, claiming there was no organisation in the country that could be called in to investigate and suggested that an independent investigation could compromise “further action being taken”, but later relented while never explaining what independent body examined the matter.

His refusal to provide independence was backed up by Chief Minister and Police Minister Lia Finocchiaro who said an internal NT Police investigation was “entirely appropriate”.

Mr White’s death made national headlines and sparked widespread outrage across the country after it was revealed he died following two police officers restraining him after an alleged confrontation with security guards at the Alice Springs Coles one year ago.

CCTV video of the incident has never been released publicly, despite calls form the family.

Lawyers for Mr White’s family previously called the refusal to refer the matter for independent investigation “just nonsense”, pointing out it happens regularly in other states and calling for Mr White’s family to be informed of what had occurred.

After Mr Dole provided the first brief of evidence to the DPP in September 2025, the DPP said it needed further independent oversight by an independent use of force expert.

Acting DPP Patrick Williams said in a statement Tuesday that his office also engaged “senior and junior counsel from interstate to provide independent legal advice” on the matter. The expert use of force report was returned in early April, with the legal advice provided at the end of last month. A “full review” was then conducted “of all the evidence”, he said.

Mr Williams said the matter would not proceed to prosecution because “the legal threshold required has not been met” and that he formed the view there was no “reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution”.

“Decisions of this kind are made independently of government, based only on the evidence and the law,” he said. “It is not appropriate to comment further on the specific evidence.”

On Tuesday, Mr Dole said he extended “our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Kumanjayi White” and called for the community “to approach the coming days peacefully and respectfully”.

“Because this matter is still subject to the coronial investigation, it would be inappropriate for police to comment further on the evidence, the legal advice received, or operational matters connected to this incident.”

Leanne Liddle, the NT Police executive director of cultural reform, said “trust between police and Aboriginal communities is fragile in many place, particularly after deaths in custody”, adding the work of “cultural reform” within police is ongoing.

She said the coronial process would now independently examine Mr White’s death “in a public and transparent forum”.

Mr Dole refused again on Tuesday to provide the official cause of death determined through an autopsy, citing the coronial inquest.

The two officers involved, including previously identified court liaison officer Steven Haig, are still working members of the NT Police, Mr Dole confirmed, with one of them on a period of leave.