Coroner's Inquest Reveals Police Racism in Killing of Kumanjayi Walker

A coroner has linked racist attitudes to the fatal shooting of Kumanjayi Walker in 2019, revealing a concerning culture within policing in Central Australia.

In a critical public inquiry, the coroner for the Northern Territory, Elisabeth Armitage, delivered her findings on the tragic shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker, an Aboriginal man killed by Constable Zachary Rolfe in Yuendumu in 2019. The two-year investigation concluded that Rolfe, who was acquitted of murder charges after claiming self-defense during an attempted arrest, exhibited ingrained racism which contributed to the incident.

In her remarks delivered before residents gathered in a local courtyard, Armitage emphasized the reality of institutional racism permeating the police force. The inquest found a troubling pattern of complaints about Rolfe's treatment of Aboriginal individuals had been largely ignored, underscoring serious flaws within the policing culture in the region, wherein officers previously celebrated aggressive tactics against Indigenous individuals.

The shooting occurred after Walker allegedly stabbed Rolfe with scissors during a scuffle, prompting the officer to fatally shoot him three times as onlookers, including family, viewed the confrontation. The case ignited protests and broader discussions surrounding police conduct towards Indigenous Australians, a community disproportionately affected by heightened arrest and incarceration rates.

Coroner Armitage's findings assert: “Mr. Rolfe was racist and that he worked in and was the beneficiary of an organization with hallmarks of institutional racism.” This statement starkly calls attention to the need for reform within the Northern Territory Police and serves as a significant moment in the ongoing dialogue about race, justice, and accountability in Australia.