The autopsy into an Aboriginal man’s death in custody in an Alice Springs supermarket has been completed, with the police brief of evidence handed to prosecutors to determine whether charges should be laid against any of the officers involved.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of family.
The 24-year-old Warlpiri man, referred to as Kumanjayi White for cultural reasons, died on May 27 this year after he was restrained by two plain-clothed police officers following an alleged confrontation with security guards inside a Coles supermarket.
Mr White grew up in the remote community of Yuendumu, but was living in supported accommodation in Alice Springs at the time due to his disabilities.Â
His death sparked an outpouring of grief from his family and home community of Yuendumu and a wave of vigils around Australia.
Martin Dole says the officers involved remain on duty while the DPP decides whether they will be charged. (ABC News: Lisa McTiernan)
In an update on the investigation on Monday, NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said police had now completed the autopsy and handed their finalised brief of evidence to the NT Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
“As part of our obligations, we have compiled a full and comprehensive brief of evidence, which has now been provided to the DPP,” he said.
“It is the Director of Public Prosecutions that will now determine whether criminal charges will be laid against any officer or officers involved.”
Asked what the autopsy showed, the acting commissioner said he would not “comment specifically on the autopsy” in order to maintain the “independence” of the DPP to consider the evidence without “influence”.
Police have been investigating the incident since May, including waiting on the results of autopsy reports, but until Monday had not released any further information on the matter.
Delay causes ‘anger and hurt’
NT Police’s community resilience and engagement command executive director Leanne Liddle acknowledged “there will be anger and hurt in the days and weeks ahead” and called for calm while the process runs its course.
Leanne Liddle has called for calm and patience during a process some feel has already “taken too long”. (ABC News: Lisa McTiernan)
“People have said that this process has taken too long, but we’ve had to wait this period of time to get the brief together and the information together before we move forward,” she said.
“These processes take a long time and it’s difficult for people to understand the depth of the brief that needed to be provided to the DPP.”Family sues over police restraint death
Ms Liddle said she and Assistant Commissioner Michael White had visited Yuendumu at the weekend to speak confidentially with the man’s family following his funeral on Friday.
“Now is a time for patience to allow the independent authorities to do their job and ensuring that Kumanjayi White’s family and other affected parties are given the space and support they deserve,” she said.
Acting Commissioner Dole said it was not unusual for such an investigation to take as long as it had, particularly in circumstances where police were awaiting “independent medical advice”.
He said the coronial process into Mr White’s death was ongoing and the officers involved remained on duty.
“Both officers involved in this matter are in non-operational forward-facing positions in administrative roles,” he said.