Selection of an armed police team to arrest an Indigenous teenager in a remote Northern Territory community was “effectively random”, an inquest into the 19-year-old’s death has been told.

In evidence to the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, Senior Constable Shane McCormack said he had been tasked with contacting members of the Immediate Response Team to find four officers to head to Yuendumu in November 2019.

He told the inquest that he worked off a list of officers which did not include their levels of training or any disciplinary history.

He said those picked weren’t the first ones he called and agreed that the process was “effectively random”.

“I kind of looked at who was off. You kind of go through a roster,” he said.

“I just needed four people. The first four and that’s it.”

Sen Const McCormack said he gave no consideration to the skills and expertise of those he contacted.

“We’ve all done the same training. They’re in the IRT so clearly, they’d be suitable,” he said.

Among the officers ultimately chosen for the team was Constable Zachary Rolfe who shot Mr Walker three times during the botched arrest at a property in Yuendumu.

Const Rolfe was subsequently charged with both murder and manslaughter over the shooting but was cleared on all counts after a Supreme Court trial.

In other evidence on Friday, Sen Const McCormack admitted he had been critical of Yuendumu officers who had been involved in an earlier attempt to arrest Mr Walker when the Warlpiri man fled after brandishing an axe.

After watching body-worn camera footage of that incident, he said he formed an opinion that he was glad he didn’t see a police officer seriously injured or killed.

“I thought they left it to chance. I was critical in a way that you’re critical when you first see something,” he told the court.

“But that doesn’t mean you don’t get a better appreciation of it.”

The inquest continues.