The family of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker say they are “deeply saddened” after the Northern Territory Supreme court jury found Zachary Rolfe not guilty of murder.
After 5 exhausting weeks of hearings, the family gathered outside the court.
“We are deeply saddened by the results and cannot begin to explain our grief in words,” Kumanjayi Walker’s cousin, Samara Fernandez-Brown said.
“Kumanjayi was only 19 when he died in the Yuendumu police station after being shot 3 times by Zachary Rolfe. This is a fact.
“He died without the support of his family, though we stood outside begging for answers on the night of the 9th.”
It took the jury just over seven hours to return the unanimous not guilty verdict for all three charges laid on Rolfe – murder, manslaughter and a violent act causing death.
Kumanjayi Walker was shot and killed by Constable Rolfe in Yuendumu in 2019. Source: Supplied
Ms Fernandez-Brown said throughout the trial Kumanjayi had been depicted as a “violent and dangerous individual” but she remembers him as so much more.
“He has been criticised and picked apart by people who did not know him, they saw only his flaws and wished to put him on trial for his own death,” she said.
“We as a family and community will continue to remember his as a young man who loved animals, who loved his community and homelands, his partner, his family, his friends, and loved music.
“A traditional Aboriginal young fella who loved hunting and being out on Country. A joyful young man who was generous.”
Senior Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said it was a “sad day” and passionately renewed calls for guns to be banned from remote communities.
Samara Fernandez-Brown, Kumanjayi Walker's cousin. Source: NITV News
“Enough is enough. It’s got to stop,” he said.
“We want a ceasefire. No more guns in our communities. It must never happen again. The police must put down their weapons.”
Valerie Napaljarri Martin, the Deputy Chair of the Parumpurru Committee in Yuendumu said there is no justice in the “kardiya system”.
“We are feeling so empty that our beloved young fella has been taken away from us. I know nothing can bring him back. We have been devastated by this injustice,” she said.
“We are all so full of anger and grief. It is a racist system that we've got here in Australia.”
Senior Warlpiri elder Warren Japanangka Williams referenced the hundreds of Aboriginal deaths in custody since the Royal Commission in 1991.
Valerie Napaljarri Martin, Warlpiri woman and the Deputy Chair of the Parumpurru Committee. Source: NITV News
No police has ever been charged or convicted of any wrongdoing in relation to any deaths in custody for yapa,” he said.
“We would like to say to other yapa families fighting for justice - never back down. Keep fighting until justice prevails.”
As the family returns home to rest, Ms Fernandez-Brown said the fight for justice is not over.
“This is not the end of his story. This is not the end of our fight, after some rest we will turn our attention to the coronial inquest where we hope our truth and our questions will finally come,” she said.
“To ensure no other family will go through what we have endured over the past 2 years.”
Senior Warlpiri elder Warren Japanangka Williams. Source: NITV News
