A policeman accused of shooting dead a 19-year-old Aboriginal man during a botched arrest in the Northern Territory will plead not guilty to murder.
Zachary Rolfe, 28, allegedly shot Kumanjayi Walker at home in the tiny desert town of Yuendumu, 300km north-west of Alice Springs, on Saturday night.
The incident happened after two police officers went to his house to arrest him for alleged breaches of his suspended sentence.
With no medics in the town, Mr Walker was taken to a police station but died two hours after he was shot.
Rolfe served in the Army before joining the police in 2016 and won The Clarke Medal (he is pictured collecting his medal with the Governor-General) of bravery for rescuing a woman from a flood waters in Alice Springs in December that year
In a statement on Thursday, the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) said Rolfe would fight the murder charge.
‘Whilst we acknowledge the tragic circumstances of the event, the member has made it clear that he will plead not guilty and will vigorously contest the charge,’ the statement said.
‘He, like all, has the presumption of innocence in his favour.
‘The member and his family have the complete support of the NTPA, as do all of his colleagues and all of our members, who put their lives at risk every day to protect the community of the Northern Territory from violent offending.’
NT Police confirmed the officer had been charged with murder on Wednesday night.
A statement read: ‘A 28-year-old male Northern Territory police officer has been charged with one count of murder. As this matter is before the court, no further information will be released.’
Mr Walker (pictured) was taken to a police station but died two hours after he was shot
Rolfe has been granted bail to appear in court in Alice Springs on 19 December.
Rolfe is the son of Canberra business identities Richard and Debbie Rolfe.
Richard Rolfe is the director of the Audi Centre in Canberra, a position he has held since 2007.
Zachary, who went to Canberra Grammar School like his father, served in the Army before joining the police in 2016.
Just days after graduating police training in December that year, he won The Clarke Medal of bravery for rescuing two tourists from a flood waters in Alice Springs.
NT Police confirmed an officer had been charged with murder on Wednesday night. Pictured: Stock image of Yuendumu
Mr Walker’s family were not told about his death until the morning after he was allegedly shot after believing overnight that he was still alive.
Angry residents from the remote community of about 800 Warlpiri people gathered after the alleged shooting at the police station as officers locked themselves inside.
NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said after the alleged shooting Mr Walker had lunged at an officer and stabbed him with a weapon, which sources had said were scissors and a struggled ensued, but the family disputed that version.
The officers had body-worn cameras that have been viewed by NT police internal investigators.
Mr Walker was released from prison on October 21 over property and stealing offences but was being re-arrested for breaching the terms of his release.
Police had allowed Mr Walker to attend the funeral of a relative earlier that day.
There were no medical staff to initially help after the alleged shooting as Yuendumu Health Centre workers evacuated earlier on Saturday due to safety concerns.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service also delayed its response amid safety concerns before it was called off because the young man died.
Staff from Yuelamu Health Centre 60 km away were injured after going to Yuendumu following the shooting and assisting in pronouncing Mr Walker dead.
Rallies have been held in Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide
Protesters have taken to streets in Melbourne demanding change in the treatment of Aboriginal people by police
They were injured in community unrest and required evacuation to receive treatment for lacerations and bruises at the Alice Springs Hospital.
Emotions are running high among Indigenous people in the NT and around the nation and the death has been a flashpoint for anger over the treatment of Aboriginal people by police, including deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations.
The Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner and NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker flew to Yuendumu to assure people an independent investigation would be conducted.
Rallies have been held in Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide.
Hundreds of protesters chanted ‘Justice for Walker’ as a smoking ceremony took place in Darwin’s near the steps of parliament on Wednesday.
Some protesters in Adelaide painted their hands red
Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islanders and allies hold up placards during a protest at the General Post Office in Melbourne