NT police defends ‘ruse’ of not telling locals Kumanjayi Walker had been shot dead by an officer

The “ruse” to keep Indigenous members of a Northern Territory community in the dark about the death of a teenager shot by police was necessary at the time, an inquest has been told.

Supt Jody Nobbs made the decision in November 2019 to not tell locals in Yuendumu about the death of Kumanjayi Walker, who was shot three times during a bungled arrest.

Nobbs on Monday told an NT inquest there was no script for dealing with such incidents.

But, he told the court, he believed the plan helped to quickly de-escalate the situation after community members gathered outside the local police station raising safety concerns for those inside.

Nobbs said the alternative option of engaging with elders, while considered, was not considered safe.

The “deliberate and calculated deception, the so-called ruse” was a key factor in preventing a “catastrophic outcome”, the superintendent said on Monday.

The Northern Territory coroner is investigating the death of Walker, who was shot three times by Const Zachary Rolfe. He was later charged with the Warlpiri man’s murder but was acquitted after a supreme court trial.

Walker died soon after while being given first aid in the local police station.

At one stage that night, police sent an ambulance to the local airport to give the impression to the local community that the teenager was being transferred to Alice Springs for treatment of his wounds.

Nobbs acknowledged the decision to not immediately reveal the death to the 19-year-old’s family caused anger and offence – and ongoing psychological harm.

He said the decision did not “sit comfortably with me” and he was now a different police officer because of the events of that night.

“But I still maintain in my position, based on my experience [it] was necessary at the time,” he said.

“The byproduct is the harm, the erosion of trust – something that’s going to probably put us back a substantial way. But again, well-intended on my part to try to keep a community that I care about safe.”

The inquest continues.

Photograph: Supplied by his family Supt Jody Nobbs says the decision not to publicise the death of Kumanjayi Walker (pictured) was ‘well intended … to try to keep a community that I care about safe’.