Walker coronial inquest to probe NT Police investigation, officer training and 50 other 'issues' | NT Independent

Walker coronial inquest to probe NT Police investigation, officer training and 50 other ‘issues’

by | May 26, 2022 | Cops, News | 0 comments

The NT Coroner’s inquest into the shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker by Constable Zach Rolfe will consider whether the police investigation was “compromised or impaired”, whether NT Police officers are receiving adequate training, and whether Constable Rolfe “used drugs that impacted his conduct”, a court list has revealed.

The inquest’s comprehensive “issues list” was released Thursday by Coroner Elisabeth Armitage, with 54 questions the inquest will attempt to answer, including why health clinic staff had left Yuendumu days before the shooting, what the actual plan was for IRT officers to arrest Walker, what medical assistance Walker received and if it was adequate and appropriate, as well as what additional medical treatment may have saved him.

The inquiry will also, once again, investigate whether there is “any evidence of systemic racism or cultural bias in the NT Police force” and how the force guards against it affecting police work.

Counsel assisting the Coroner Peggy Dwyer told the court that while “this is not a commission of inquiry into Constable Rolfe” and rather the “focus is on the NT Police force response”, some issues the coroner will consider include whether Constable Rolfe was “suffering from a health condition or taking any medication” as well as whether there is “evidence that Constable Rolfe used drugs that impacted his conduct” and whether he had been the subject of any “relevant complaints or disciplinary proceedings” and if those had been appropriately dealt with.

The inquest will also examine whether Kumanjayi Walker had any disabilities including “FASD, mental health issues, hearing loss and learning deficits” and whether his run-ins with the criminal justice system provided “suitable and sufficient opportunities to promote his rehabilitation”.

The inquest is scheduled to start on September 5 and will also consider the circumstances around the use of force by police and whether amendments need to be made, as well as what policies and procedures apply to NT Police personnel carrying guns in communities and whether that should be changed.

A footnote on the issues list indicated that it is “provided for the assistance of parties, but does not bind the Coroner”.

Constable Rolfe was found not guilty of the murder of Kumanjayi Walker in March by a Supreme Court jury.

Ads by Google

Ads by Google

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

Adsense

0 Comments

Submit a Comment