Police officer who shot Aboriginal teen was ‘racist’, inquest finds

The police officer who killed the original teenager Kumumjay Walker in 2019 was “racist” and had a “attractiveness” of the police similar to adrenaline.

Walker, 19, died shortly after he was shot three times in a close distance by the Zakari Rolf Connecting while arresting the house in Yuindomo, a community of indigenous population in the northern region (NT).

Rolf – He is no longer a policeman – was accused of killing Walker and his acquittal in 2022, which sparked protests about the original deaths.

In providing his findings, Judge Elizabeth Armitage said that the death of Walker “can be avoided” and there was “clear evidence of firm, systemic and structural racism” within the NT police force.

Judge Armitage released a summary of its results – more than 600 pages – at an outdoor presentation in Youndomo, about 300 km (190 miles) northwest of Alice Springs on Monday.

I found that “Rolf was racist and that he was working and was the beneficiary of an organization with the distinctive features of institutional racism.”

She said Rolf “was not a single bad apple,” and found that the language and racist behavior “were normalized inside the Alice Springs police station.”

Although she could not “say with certainty that Mr. Rolf’s racist positions” contributed to the death of Walker, I could not exclude this possibility, “I told those who gathered in the presentation, which included members of the Walker family.

In addition, “Rolf’s mockery positions” towards female colleagues and some presidents, as well as “the contempt of the Bush police”, may have affected his actions on the day the judge was launched.

On November 9, 2019, Rolf and another officer arrived at Walker’s home in Yuindomo for arresting him for a court order.

Three days ago, the police tried to arrest Walker and threatened them with an ax.

Walker was a “weak teenager” had a history of shock and “controlling the bad motivation”, as Judge Jeremag found, indicating that the police should have been “on a notice” to avoid another confrontation.

During the trial of the Supreme Court in Rolf in 2022, the court heard that the officers participated in a fight with Walker about one minute after his arrival at his home.

Walker stabbed a Rolf’s shoulder with a pair of scissors, prompting Rolf to shoot him without warning – a step that Rolf’s lawyers said was self -defense. The prosecutors agreed.

After seconds, Rolf launched two other shots in Walker. Prosecutors argued that this is not necessary, while the defense said they were because Rolf feared the safety of his colleague.

In its findings, Judge Armitage found that Rolf took a “series of defective decisions” that led to “the danger caused by the officers” – a position where the police themselves unnecessarily … created a position that justifies the use of deadly force. ”

She also said that Rolf – a former soldier – found “delightful” combat positions and had “an attractiveness to the adrenaline police.” Judge Armitage said he also ignored the Locker’s arrest plan created by a female officer because he “thought he knows better.”

After shooting on Walker, the officers pulled him from the house before he was transferred to the police station, where he got first aid. He died later.

Judge Armitage said: “The clouds is an unresolved act and should not happen.”

32 recommendations, including the development of “mutual respect agreements” for restriction when the police carry weapons in the Yuendumu community, and in order to strengthen the police strategy to combat, target racism, and to comply with its measures.

When she finished her speech for one hour, Judge Armitage thanked those who participated in the investigation and the Walker family.

“I’m sorry for your deep loss,” she said.

The cousin of Walker Samara Fernandez Brown said the report was “landing” and that the family will establish recommendations, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

In a statement, NT police said that the investigation was “a long and painful journey for all concerned.”

“This has been a difficult way, and we are determined to make sure that what has been learned has not been.”

The investigating judge was launched in Walker’s death in 2022. Under NT Law, all the detained deaths must be investigated. The results are not legally binding.