Warlpiri people and friends march and wail

By ERWIN CHLANDA

A large number of people from Lajamanu and from Yuendumu, the home town of Kumanjayi White who died in custody on May 27, came to Alice Springs to attend a vigil, to march and mourn.

They had not been able to attend the first two vigils, on May 30 and June 6.

Women threw themselves on a bed of flowers, cards and small posters with messages outside the Cole supermarket where Kumanjayi had become involved in a confrontation with security guards and two police officers.

The women wailed loudly (video).

There were no police at this morning’s ceremonies.

Coles staff welcomed into the store several small groups of men and women to aisle four – “chocolate, juice, lollies” – where the confrontation had taken place a short time before Kumanjayi’s death.

The vigil ended on the courthouse lawns, in front of the police station. Elder Ned Jampjinpa Hargraves (pictured), who said White was his “my jaja” (grandson), said at the top of his voice: “We want justice. Enough is enough.”

He said CCTV and footage from body-worn cameras should be made available to the family.

The two police now under investigation should be stood down.

The family is “very, very angry”.

UPDATE JUNE 12, 2025, 1150am

The office of the Northern Territory Coroner, Judge Elisabeth Armitage, released the following statement a short while ago, saying she has responsibility for a mandatory inquest into the death in custody of Kumanjayi White.

"It is part of the duty of a Coroner to ensure that a mandatory inquest takes place, and that it is independent, fair and rigorous.

"In order to assist Coroner Armitage in that task, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC and Maria Walz have been appointed as Senior Counsel and Instructor Assisting for the inquest.

"The Counsel Assisting team are highly experienced in the conduct of complex inquests, in NT Police practice and in knowledge of, and engagement with, Alice Springs and Yuendumu-based agencies and broader community.

"Appointment of an experienced team at this early stage will help to ensure that the inquest is comprehensive and that it is completed in an independent and timely manner.”