A 19-year-old Indigenous man shot dead by police in the Northern Territory tried to harm himself after being taken into custody some years earlier, an inquest has been told.
The NT coroner is investigating the death of Kumanjayi Walker who was shot and killed by a police officer during an attempted arrest in Yuendumu in 2019.
Giving evidence on Wednesday, Sergeant Anne Jolley, who first went to Yuendumu in 2014, said Mr Walker had been among a group of children police had concerns for at the time.
She first had contact with him when he was aged about 13 over a local break-in.
“He was a shy person. And there was a certain fear when he saw us,” Sgt Jolley said.
“He was always quite reserved and when we’ve had to lock him up he got very emotional, got very teary.”
The inquest was told of a report which detailed a self-harm incident in May 2014 when Mr Walker was taken into custody.
While in a police cell, the teenager continued calling out threats to harm himself if he went to juvenile detention.
Among other actions, he twice hit his head on the wall, punched the wall several times, threatened to poke his eye out and bit his finger.
Sgt Jolley described the boy’s behaviour at the time as concerning and said she feared for his wellbeing.
“I would have had the medical clinic down there as quick as I could,” she said.
Sgt Jolley also told the inquiry that Mr Walker’s death had definitely traumatised the local community.
“They are healing, but that will take time,” she said.
Former Canberra man, Constable Zachary Rolfe was acquitted of Mr Walker’s murder and other charges after a Supreme Court trial earlier this year.
The inquest continues.
If this story has raised issues for you, contact:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
By Tim Dornin in ALICE SPRINGS
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