Police ‘unaware’ slain teen tried handy himself in

NT Police had been unaware an indigenous teenager shot throughout a bungled arrest had needed to return to the alcohol rehabilitation clinic from which he had fled, an inquest has been advised.

Kumanjayi Walker, 19, was shot 3 times by Const Zachary Rolfe in the course of the botched arrest at Yuendumu, north-west of Alice Springs, on November 9, 2019.

Rolfe had been despatched with a specialist police unit to apprehend the Warlpiri teenager after he left an Alice Springs alcohol rehabilitation clinic.

NT Deputy Police Commissioner Murray Smalpage mentioned members of the police unit had been “unaware” Mr Walker had known as the clinic to apologise and ask if he might return.

Mr Smalpage additionally mentioned police had been unaware of Mr Walker’s put up traumatic stress dysfunction signs, mental incapacity and partial deafness.

“They weren’t conscious of any of (Mr Walker’s) vulnerabilities. (And) they didn’t know that he tried handy himself in,” he advised the inquest at Alice Springs on Wednesday.

Andrew Boe, representing Mr Walker’s household, mentioned he would make submissions to the inquiry about why police had not been given all out there info earlier than the arrest.

“How will we have a look at methods through which arrest makes an attempt correctly bear in mind the identified data of that particular person?” he mentioned.

“How will we enhance the capability to police in communities the place there are younger individuals who have cognitive deficiencies, disabilities or language points?”

Mr Smalpage defended the choice of officers to go to Yuendumu, regardless of a day earlier criticising how they executed their plan to arrest Mr Walker.

“The reality of the matter is each particular person police officer there has discretion about what they’re going to do,” Mr Smalpage mentioned.

“I don’t assume we are able to write a prescriptive order or instruction that gives a easy resolution that’s going to resolve all of the complexities cops face throughout the NT.”

The inquest will proceed over the subsequent two weeks, with different members of the NT Police Pressure and representatives from Territory Households anticipated to present proof.

High cop criticises deadly NT arrest