A jury has found police officer Zachary Rolfe not guilty of murder over the fatal shooting of Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker. 9News MORE:
A jury has found police officer Zachary Rolfe not guilty of murder over the fatal shooting of Aboriginal teenager Kumanjayi Walker, after a month-long trial in the Northern Territory Supreme Court.
The NT constable was charged with murder and also faced alternative charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death. However, when he fired a second shot 2.6 seconds after the first, and a third shot 0.5 seconds later, they argued the situation had changed because Mr Rolfe's partner had restrained Mr Walker on the ground.
In his closing address, Mr Rolfe's counsel David Edwardson QC said his client had no time to form any intent and that he instinctively responded to the threat of the scissors which Mr Walker deployed against both officers. "He was, at all times, non-compliant with violent resistance, even after three bullets had entered his centre body mass, the exact location where Zachary Rolfe had been trained to aim."He was acting in the reasonable performance of his duties, and he was acting in self-defence; the self-defence of himself and his partner.Mr Edwardson also addressed Mr Walker's criminal record.
"It was a tragic day, a young man lost his life, but let's not forget Constable Rolfe," Mr McCue said.
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