Latest news with #CoronerArmitage
SBS Australia
10-07-2025
- SBS Australia
'This was never about race': Zachary Rolfe rejects inquest findings as Warlpiri call for peace
Warning: this article contains distressing and violent content and the name of an Aboriginal person who has died. Zachary Rolfe has defended himself against scathing coronial inquest criticism that he was racist and that there is a risk that this racism affected his interactions with the community of Yuendumu on the day he shot and killed Kumanjayi Walker. On Monday Coroner Elisabeth Armitage travelled to the Yuendumu community to hand down the report finalising the coronial inquest. Rolfe fatally shot 19-year-old Warlpiri-Luritja man, Kumanjayi Walker, during an attempted arrest in Yuendumu on November 9, 2019. The inquest commenced in September 2022 after the six-week jury trial that acquitted the former Northern Territory police officer of all charges, finding he acted in self-defence and in line with his police training. Judge Armitage outlined 32 recommendations, finding that Rolfe was racist and that she could not exclude the possibility that his attitudes played an integral role in the teenager's death. She said she was satisfied that on at least five occasions prior to Kumanjayi's death Rolfe used unnecessary force and that there were other occasions in which force was avoidable. "There were instances where Mr Rolfe used force without proper regard for the risk of injury to persons, all of whom were Aboriginal boys or men, and significant injuries were caused to suspects because of his use of force," she said. The coroner said he sought out situations in which force was necessary because he "found combat situations exhilarating and had an interest in adrenaline-style policing". Rolfe 'entitled to the presumption of innocence' Rolfe's lawyers, Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers, released a statement on his behalf, saying that he is "entitled to the presumption of innocence that follows the not guilty verdict". They said Rolfe "does not accept" any findings inconsistent with his acquittal particularly those relating to his conduct on November 9, 2019, or the finding that "he subverted Sergeant Frost and instituted his own plan". He also denied criticism that he acted outside of his operational safety training, and ignored training. "Constable Rolfe was violently stabbed despite his polite and calm disposition – all of which is self-evident from the body worn video that he wore when this incident occurred," they said. "The evidence was that it was not a minor injury, it could have been lethal." The lawyers criticised the inquest for its "focus" on Rolfe's training. Insofar as some may hold a view to the contrary, this was never about race. 'Far beyond her remit' The lawyers were critical of Coroner Armitage's findings, saying that some of them "do not sit well" with the jury's verdict at the trial. They also questioned the proper scope of a coronial inquest, saying they can become "a roving royal commission" without appropriate regulation and accused Judge Armitage of going beyond her duties. "The true purpose of a coronial inquest is to establish the cause and circumstances of death, and in this case the Coroner went far beyond her remit." Addressing racism in the NT Police In handing down her findings, Judge Armitage took aim at the Northern Territory Police Force, directing 18 recommendations at the institution. She noted "all forms of racism" were present in the NT Police "at various times" and requested their anti-racism strategy be bolstered and made public. "The NT police force must take steps through its training, supervision, culture and leadership to ensure racist attitudes do not develop and, if they do, they are identified and corrected and are not tolerated or condoned," she said. "Concerning racism, there was direct evidence of clearly racist comments made by Mr Rolfe and between Mr Rolfe and his superiors in the lead up to Kumanjayi's death, ... text messages that ... contained extremely racist names and references to Aboriginal people." Northern Territory Acting Police Commissioner Martin Dole described the findings as "confronting". "It is a truth that we must face. What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable," he told media on Tuesday. "We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms, and making this a safer, fairer organisation for everybody." He did not comment on whether the institution would accept the related recommendations but said they "deserve to be considered properly, thoroughly and with the seriousness that they warrant". "Our response will take time because it must be meaningful and enduring," he said. NT Police acting commissioner Martin Dole speaks to Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, senior Warlpiri Elder in Yuendumu, Northern Territory, Monday, July 7th, 2025. Source: AAP / Keira Jenkins/AAP Image 'We felt like racism killed Kumanjayi' Family members of Kumanjayi Walker have called on the Northern Territory Police for a ceasefire in response to the Coroner's report. "In future when we work with the police, it needs to be two ways of working and understanding," said Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, senior Warlpiri Elder from Yuendumu. "The First Nations, Indigenous people, we have the first solution and we need to take back our rights, our rights to run the community and to have peace." Uncle Ned said the findings relating to racism were truth. The coroner talked about the racists in the Northern Territory today – she has told the truth. Kumanjayi Walker's cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown, said while the coronial inquest was traumatising, the family have found some closure. "We've heard things throughout the inquest that have broken our hearts," she said. "But, when we heard the coroner say that there was structural and entrenched racism in the NT police, we felt validated as a family, because to us, we felt like racism killed Kumanjayi." Lifeline 13 11 14
ABC News
20-05-2025
- ABC News
Suicide of NT police officer Michael Deutrom to be examined at coronial inquest
WARNING: This story contains references to suicide and self-harm and will be distressing for some readers. A coronial inquest into the suicide of a Northern Territory constable is set to lay bare the challenges faced by police officers and whether more can be done to support those on the frontline. Michael Deutrom took his own life in April 2022, about three months after taking personal leave from his posting in the remote community of Kintore, in the territory's south-west. His death was one of three NT police suicide deaths in the first half of 2022, when two serving officers and one retired member took their own lives. This week, Northern Territory Coroner Elisabeth Armitage will investigate the circumstances of Constable Deutrom's death, and the systems in place to identify and address the cumulative effects of trauma on NT frontline workers. Judge Armitage said she hoped the inquest would honour Constable Deutrom's legacy as an advocate for mental health in the Northern Territory Police Force. "He wanted other officers to get help to deal with their exposure to trauma … and he wanted them to get help before their exposure to trauma developed into mental illness," she said on Monday. "I hope that this inquest honours Mickey's wishes. In a statement read out in court on Monday, Constable Deutrom's family said the death of their "special son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend" continued to have a "profound impact" on his loved ones. "Michael was a generous person that gave so much to those around him," they said. "He took his oath and vocation of policing seriously and he served the community of the Northern Territory with compassion, honour and dignity." The family said they and Constable Deutrom's colleagues had been given "a commitment to real change in the Northern Territory police wellbeing space". "We hope for a frank and honest exchange during this inquest, an acceptance and understanding of any shortfalls … and a future that mitigates the loss of lives through suicide and negative mental illness," they said. Read the Deutrom family's full statement here. Counsel assisting the coroner Chris McGorey said the Constable Deutrom had been exposed to a number of confronting jobs during his 23-year policing career, and was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder after taking leave from his Kintore posting. He said there were three particular incidents the inquest would examine "to understand [Constable Deutrom's] feelings, perceptions, and how his injury progressed". One of those events was a car fire Constable Deutrom attended at the age of 21, less than six months out of recruit training. "It's a significant example of the type of job at a young age an officer's being required to confront," Mr McGorey said. "Significant, as well, that nearly 23 years later Michael was continuing to turn to that event in his mind. Assistant Commissioner Peter Kennon and an executive member of the NT Police Force's wellbeing division are among those expected to give evidence on Tuesday. The inquest is scheduled to finish on Friday. Read the Deutrom family's full statement: Good morning your Honour, On behalf of the Deutrom family we would like to sincerely thank you and your office for undertaking this inquest into the death of Michael Stanley Deutrom. Michael's death continues to have a profound impact on our family. Michael was a unique and special individual. As a family, we know that Policing in the Northern Territory is not easy. Our family has given more than 60 years to policing in the NT and this has come at a considerable cost to our family. We have lost a special son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle and friend. Unfortunately, the pain of Michaels loss is understandably still raw for our family and some of us are not able to bring ourselves physically to court today, but please rest assured we will be watching intently with interest and along with many online we hope for some good to come out of this process. … Michael was a generous person that gave so much to those around him, he took his oath and vocation of policing seriously and he served the community of the Northern Territory with compassion, honour and dignity. When many police spoke and aspired to being engaged in community policing, Michael lived it and practiced it without fanfare or accolades. He didn't need a glossy brochure to tell him how to engage with the community. Whether it be honouring a commitment to pursuing justice for a domestic violence victim in court, mentoring junior police and or volunteering his own time to help children in remote communities learn how to read at their schools, he did it not because he was told to, but because it was the right thing to do. Michael spent hundreds of hours in this very courthouse pursuing justice for victims of crime, he was much loved and respected. The exposure to cumulative trauma that police face is amplified by the sheer volume in the Northern Territory, it not only impacts those that served but leaves and indelible and often negative impact on officers, family and friends. Our officers are often pushed to exhaustion, fatigued and relied on to keep turning up. We know that the longer you serve in the frontline, the higher the chances are that your mental health will be negatively impacted. Michael was a career police officer who served in the frontline year after year. He had a genuine interest in his colleague's welfare, he regularly advocated for positive changes to frontline policing having earnt the right to speak with authority in this space. Policing is difficult and does not come without risk, however when families handover their loved ones to serve and protect the community of the Northern Territory, they ought be satisfied that adequate systems are in place to mitigate the damage caused from exposure to cumulative trauma and workloads, and that adequate and appropriate assistance is given to officers and their families during their service when the time comes to transition out of policing. At Michaels service, our family along with Michaels friends and colleagues were given a commitment to real change in the Northern Territory Police well-being space, we have been patient and hope that this promise is being materially honoured. We hope for a frank and honest exchange during this inquest, an acceptance and understanding of any shortfalls, recognition of those that had helped Michael, a genuine commitment to change and a future that mitigates the loss of lives through suicide and negative mental illness outcomes for those that choose to serve and protect the community.
