Walker arrest team ‘randomly’ picked
Tim Dornin |
Selection of an armed police team to arrest an Indigenous teenager in a remote Northern Territory community was “effectively random”, an inquest into the 19-year-old’s death has been told.
In evidence to the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, Senior Constable Shane McCormack said he had been tasked with contacting members of the Immediate Response Team to find four officers to head to Yuendumu in November 2019.
He told the inquest that he worked off a list of officers which did not include their levels of training or any disciplinary history.
He said those picked weren’t the first ones he called and agreed that the process was “effectively random”.
“I kind of looked at who was off. You kind of go through a roster,” he said.
“I just needed four people. The first four and that’s it.”
Sen Const McCormack said he gave no consideration to the skills and expertise of those he contacted.
“We’ve all done the same training. They’re in the IRT so clearly, they’d be suitable,” he said.
Among the officers ultimately chosen for the team was Constable Zachary Rolfe who shot Mr Walker three times during the botched arrest at a property in Yuendumu.
Const Rolfe was subsequently charged with murder and manslaughter over the shooting but was cleared on all counts after a Supreme Court trial.
In other evidence on Friday, Sen Const McCormack admitted he had been critical of Yuendumu officers who had been involved in an earlier attempt to arrest Mr Walker when the Warlpiri man fled after brandishing an axe.
After watching body-worn camera footage of that incident, he said he formed an opinion that he was glad he didn’t see a police officer seriously injured or killed.
“I thought they left it to chance. I was critical in a way that you’re critical when you first see something,” he told the court.
“But that doesn’t mean you don’t get a better appreciation of it.”
Sen Const McCormack was also questioned about statements he made after the shooting in relation to the axe incident in which he said if he had been involved he would have “hunted” the person down.
But he said he never expressed that opinion to other members of the IRT and told the inquest that he now regretted using that term which came after Const Rolfe had been arrested.
“I can’t say I was in a happy place at that stage,” he said.
“I apologise. If I’d do it again, I wouldn’t use that word.”
He further told the NT coroner that no disrespect was intended by officers, including members of the IRT, gathering at a barbecue soon after the shooting.
He agreed that, on reflection, such a gathering was “not the best idea” with an investigation into Mr Walker’s death underway.
“At the end of the day he was someone’s child,” Sen Const McCormack said.
“That isn’t lost on any of us police officers.”
The inquest was continuing.
AAP
