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Yuendumu: Policeman charged with Aboriginal teenager's murder | Yuendumu: Policeman charged with Aboriginal teenager's murder |
(1 day later) | |
An Australian policeman has been charged with murder over the shooting death of an Aboriginal teenager in a case that has drawn national attention. | An Australian policeman has been charged with murder over the shooting death of an Aboriginal teenager in a case that has drawn national attention. |
Kumanjayi Walker, 19, died after being arrested at a house in the Northern Territory (NT) on Saturday. | Kumanjayi Walker, 19, died after being arrested at a house in the Northern Territory (NT) on Saturday. |
His death has sparked community anger and protests across the country. | His death has sparked community anger and protests across the country. |
Constable Zachary Rolfe, 28, was arrested on Wednesday, NT Police said. He will plead not guilty to murder, a police union said. | Constable Zachary Rolfe, 28, was arrested on Wednesday, NT Police said. He will plead not guilty to murder, a police union said. |
Mr Rolfe was granted bail following a court hearing and has been suspended with pay. | Mr Rolfe was granted bail following a court hearing and has been suspended with pay. |
Police said they would also conduct an internal investigation into the shooting in Yuendumu, a remote community 300km (190 miles) north-west of Alice Springs. | Police said they would also conduct an internal investigation into the shooting in Yuendumu, a remote community 300km (190 miles) north-west of Alice Springs. |
The territory government has called for calm amid rising community tensions that have seen crowds converge on the police station in Yuendumu. | The territory government has called for calm amid rising community tensions that have seen crowds converge on the police station in Yuendumu. |
NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he acknowledged the Yuendemu community - 85% of whom identify as indigenous - was "hurting and grieving". | NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner said he acknowledged the Yuendemu community - 85% of whom identify as indigenous - was "hurting and grieving". |
What is known about the case? | What is known about the case? |
Mr Walker was shot sometime after two police officers went to arrest him for breaches of his suspended sentence, local media reported. | Mr Walker was shot sometime after two police officers went to arrest him for breaches of his suspended sentence, local media reported. |
He died in the police station at Yuendumu. There was no medical care in the town at the time - medical staff from another town arrived after he had died. | He died in the police station at Yuendumu. There was no medical care in the town at the time - medical staff from another town arrived after he had died. |
NT health officials said the medical clinic in Yuendumu had been unstaffed due to safety concerns about break-ins. | NT health officials said the medical clinic in Yuendumu had been unstaffed due to safety concerns about break-ins. |
The Royal Flying Doctor Service said it had also delayed travelling to the site because of safety concerns. | The Royal Flying Doctor Service said it had also delayed travelling to the site because of safety concerns. |
Mr Walker's family was notified of his death hours after he died, Australian media reported. Officials have classified his death as a "death in custody". | Mr Walker's family was notified of his death hours after he died, Australian media reported. Officials have classified his death as a "death in custody". |
He is the second Aboriginal person to have died in the past two months after being shot by police. Joyce Clarke, 29, was fatally wounded in Western Australia in September. | He is the second Aboriginal person to have died in the past two months after being shot by police. Joyce Clarke, 29, was fatally wounded in Western Australia in September. |
Australia conducted a royal commission inquiry in 1991 into Aboriginal deaths in custody, but critics say recent reviews have been misleading and not enough is being done to address the issue. | Australia conducted a royal commission inquiry in 1991 into Aboriginal deaths in custody, but critics say recent reviews have been misleading and not enough is being done to address the issue. |
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