A juror in Zachary Rolfe’s murder trial has a sister serving with the Northern Territory Police, it has been revealed.
Constable Rolfe, 30, was last week found not guilty of murdering 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker after shooting him in Yuendumu, almost 300km northwest of Alice Springs, in November 2019 during an attempted arrest.
According to NT News, a day after the trial began, Justice John Burns received a note from one of the jurors.
“I apologise, I should have said something yesterday, however I do not do well with large audiences and was extremely nervous,” the note read.
“For your information and consideration witxjmtzywh my place on the jury, my sister is a police officer/constable for the NT Police.”
The juror indicated they did not believe their relationship with their sister would cause them difficulty in approaching the evidence in an unbiased way.
No objection was raised and the trial continued.
Constable Rolfe, who fired three shots, had pleaded not guilty to murder and faced a five-week trial involving more than 40 witnesses.
On Friday, he was acquitted of all charges, including two alternative charges of manslaughter and engaging in a violent act causing death.
On Monday, Constable Rolfe’s father Richard told 2GB radio that he was “incredibly” proud of his son.
Mr Rolfe said in some way the family was relieved but also very disappointed in the entire process, which he agreed had been traumatic for his family.
“It’s been traumatic for many, many people — it’s been traumatic for the Walker family, the Yuendumu community, the entire NT police force. It’s been very, very divisive.”
Asked what he thought about his son’s interaction with Mr Walker, he said he did not just think about those seconds when the shots were fired.
“I look at the interaction with the community before he walked into the house where he was incredibly respectful and professional,” Mr Rolfe said.
“I look at the hour after the shooting where he was the person responsible for giving the primary first aid to (Mr) Walker to try to keep him alive.
“You’ve got to remember that my son was stabbed. My son shot a man who was trying to kill his partner.
“After the third shot, (Mr) Walker had threatened, again on the body worn camera, saying that he was going to murder the police and yet it was my son who was the primary caregiver, the person who was comforting him.
“After a few minutes, (Mr Walker) was saying please help me. My son said, ‘Yeah, we’ve got you, brother’. So that’s what I think about.”
Constable Rolfe wants to return to the police force but he has been stood down again pending a further inquiry.
Following the verdict, Constable Rolfe told reporters outside court that “a lot of people are hurting today.”
Mr Walker’s family expressed sadness and disappointment over the verdict.
