Warning, this next story contains the image of an aboriginal person who has died, used with the permission of their family. The northern territory coroner has handed down her long-awaited findings into the 20-19 death of Kumanjayi Walker. The 19-year-old was fatally shot by a police officer in the remote community of Yuendumu 300 kilometres north-west of Alice Springs. His death was subject to a mandatory coronial inquest under territory law. NT coroner Elisabeth Armitage has been investigating the circumstances of the shooting since 2022. Hearing from more than 70 witnesses over 66 sitting days. At a special hearing in Yuendumu judge Armitage has handed down her findings, saying her recommendations aim to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.
00:00Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised that this video contains images and
00:07voices of people who have died. A massive report that was just handed down by the Northern
00:13Territory Coroner, several hundred pages, and what we've seen so far is just a snapshot of
00:19those findings. The coroner spoke just now for about an hour, giving a brief overview
00:24of her findings and recommendations. Some of those findings were around allegations of racism within
00:34the Northern Territory Police Force. She found that there was evidence of systemic racism within the
00:42Northern Territory Police Force. She has also said that she is unable to rule out whether or not
00:50racist attitudes that she found were held by Zachary Rolfe. She said she was unable to rule out
00:56whether or not those played a part in his actions on the night that Kumonjai Walker died. Of course,
01:03we know that 19-year-old Kumonjai Walker was a Walpuri Laricha man who was fatally shot by a former
01:10Constable Zachary Rolfe during an attempted arrest. Here in Yundamu, she made some findings around
01:17that arrest itself. Obviously, as she said, it was a failed arrest and that there were several things
01:24that went wrong on the 9th of November. I think we can take a listen to some of those findings
01:30that she made earlier. Kumonjai's death in Yundamu on 9 November 2019 was avoidable. Although in some
01:40significant respects, the failures were institutional, I share the view expressed by the use of force
01:48experts and several highly experienced senior police officers who said that this was a case
01:54of officer-induced jeopardy, an expression that describes situations where officers needlessly
02:01put themselves in danger, making themselves and others vulnerable and creating a situation
02:08that justifies the use of deadly force. Now, Mel, what recommendations did the coroner make?
02:20We haven't been able to see the full report just yet. All we know is from what the coroner just
02:27read out to the crowd that were gathered here in Yundamu. We know that those recommendations are
02:34broadly around changes for Yundamu itself. She wants to see a better night patrol service
02:42and better engagement for youth services and disability services here in the community. She
02:48also made some recommendations around Northern Territory Health, seeking that they make improvements
02:55to screening of young children here in Yundamu. The main recommendations that we heard from
03:02from this summary from the coroner were around the Northern Territory Police Force. She's made some
03:09recommendations, particularly around training and recruitment of police officers here. She's also
03:16made some recommendations about how Northern Territory Police go about making arrests where there is a high risk.
03:28As you can hear, Miriam, there is a number of community members here who gathered to take in those findings. So apologies if you can't hear us quite clearly. But I think we can take a listen to a little bit more of what the coroner had to say earlier.
03:45To NT Police, I have recommended that the problems with their management of complaints and internal
03:53investigations be addressed in consultation with the Cultural Reform Command, that its anti-racism
04:01strategy be strengthened, be targeted, made public and compliance with its measures be publicly reported.
04:08I have recommended that the NT Police engage directly with the Yundamu leadership groups to develop mutual respect agreements, including when it would be appropriate for police not to carry firearms in community. And I have made other recommendations concerning the use of long-arm weapons.
04:28Mel, as we can hear there, there is obviously some reaction, understandable reaction coming through from the community. What have you been sensing? You've been there some few days before this. What are you sensing there today?
04:42Yeah, Miriam, it's been really calm and quiet in the community over the last couple of days and even this morning as well, and particularly immediately after the coroner wrapped up delivering her remarks. It was a real
04:57a real sense of quiet as this report was handed down. We're now hearing from some community members who are obviously very emotional. This has been six years almost in the making.
05:12Koemanjai Walker died in November of 2019 and today this report is really the culmination of a lot of questions that family and community have been asking since that night.
05:24We have seen such a huge amount of work has gone into these findings. And of course, we did also see the criminal trial in 2022 where Zachary Rolfe was acquitted of all charges. So this has been a really long time coming for the community. No doubt there'll be more reaction to come, Miriam.
05:44Certainly a lot to absorb and we understand the outpouring there.
05:54Do you know that the reports?
05:55You know it has been a wh bleed.
05:58It definitely shows that you don't sleep there for now too.
06:00I'm so excited for several.
06:01I'm so excited that starting out.
06:03The openrus part should be having a cool photo at neighboring right now.
06:04I'm so excited about this.
06:05It's been really exciting to see how many people take care.
06:07Is that better more can really help your wiring or working a fantasy team?
06:11I'm so excited to see thefonicemium slide.
06:14Costa equivalent.
06:15I'm very excited about this.
06:17I'm lookin'nÄ› true, but I'm a little bit drunk not because if it's a big fan of you.
