The family of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker felt the weight of coronavirus restrictions on Thursday, as their campaign for justice faced more hurdles.
It comes as Alice Springs Local Court adjourned a hearing in the murder case against Constable Zachary Rolfe, who was charged over the shooting of Mr Walker in the central desert town of Yuendumu last November.
from Adelaide Mr Walker’s cousin Samara Fernandez said the outcome was expected, with growing pressures on the health system as a result of coronavirus creating significant delays.
“We were expecting it because there’s just too much evidence that still needs to be compiled and processed and put together,” she said.
“But obviously we’ve got the COVID-19 pandemic happening at the moment and that’s just putting a hold on everything.”
Appearing for the accused, David Edwardson QC said the evidence included "161 statements, 256 annexures, plus multiple body video footage".
The impact of COVID-19 on court proceedings meant only four people were able to view the matter in Alice Springs Local Court, while the community in Yuendumu were given the option to hear proceedings via an audio link at the local courthouse.
‘Heavy heart’: COVID-19 restrictions stifling community morale
But it’s the impact coronavirus and the new restrictions are having on community morale that Ms Fernandez said has been most difficult.
With Northern Territory remote communities closing borders in an attempt to stop the spread of the virus, Ms Fernandez has been isolated in Adelaide where she lives for university.
“I feel a bit of a heavy heart being away from family and stuff at this time… because you know you’re trying to cope with getting everything together, working from home, studying at home as well on top of that - and then you can’t be with family, which you wanna be,” she said.
Ms Fernandez said the Warlpiri Parumpurru [Justice] Committee, which campaigns for justice in the case, has been unable to hold regular face-to-face meetings or organise gatherings outside of the courthouse like they have in previous mentions.
“It’s good in terms of everybody’s safety right now, but at the same time it sort of sucks for that connection within family,” she said.
“You know the solidarity exists but you can’t showcase it on the level that you would prior, because you can’t have obviously everyone together in the same room,” she said.
Ms Fernandez said she hoped their campaign would pick up momentum by the adjourned date on 25 June.
Warlpiri call for sacking of NT Police Officer
Meanwhile, community members have praised the suspension of an NT Police Officer without pay overnight, who created and sold a racist singlet to colleagues referencing the shooting of Mr Walker.
Senior Warlpiri man Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves said while his suspension was welcome, he wants to see the officer taken off the force for good.
“It’s bloody good news, it just blew my away. That’s ngurrju [good],” he said.
“But we want to see him sacked. For us yapa [Warlpiri], we don’t want him back on the force.”
