A delay is expected in the murder trial of Northern Territory police officer Zachary Rolfe. 

Proceedings began this week in the trial of Constable Zachary Rolfe, the NT police officer accused of murdering 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in the remote community of Yuendumu in November 2019.

Acting Justice Dean Mildren has been considering arguments from the defence and prosecution lawyers on what evidence can be presented to the jury and which potential expert witnesses will be called.

However, the judge is expected to officially adjourn the matter when the pre-trial hearing resumes on Thursday. This is because Crown Prosecutors Phillip Strickland SC and Sophie Callan SC, who are based in Sydney, are in lockdown due to the COVID-19 outbreak in New South Wales, so they cannot travel to Darwin. The prosecutors have applied for exemptions and are waiting for a response from the NT government.

Mr Rolfe has indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to the charge.

The case is one of the first in modern Australian history in which a serving police officer will face murder charges over an Indigenous death in custody.

Important questions include whether in the seconds after Mr Walker stabbed Mr Rolfe, when Mr Walker had been shot once and wrestled to the ground, Mr Rolfe could and should have done something other than shoot Walker twice more. 

“We put our trust in the justice system,” Jimmy Langdon, a Yuendumu leader and chair of the Warlpiri Youth Development Aboriginal Corporation, has told reporters.

“We want justice to be de­livered. If it is not delivered, we will feel upset and angry – not only in Yuendumu but also in a lot of other places too.

“It’s going to be a huge shame job for all of Australia … people will linger on it.”