NT police say investigation into Kumanjayi White's death in custody at 'advanced state'
Northern Territory police say their investigation into Kumanjayi White's death in custody is now at an "advanced state", nearly three months after his death in Alice Springs.
The 24-year-old Warlpiri man died at a Coles supermarket in Alice Springs on May 27 after he was restrained by plain-clothed police officers following an alleged altercation with security guards.
The death of Mr White, who was from Yuendumu but was living in Alice Springs at the time due to his disabilities, prompted vigils around the country and an outpouring of grief from Mr White's family and community.
During a press conference on Friday, NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Travis Wurst confirmed that the criminal investigation into Mr White's death, titled Operation Walcrow, was continuing.
"Police, however, are still waiting on the forensic pathology report to come from the Northern Territory forensic pathologist," he said.
"I can confirm that from the original autopsy, a number of samples were sent interstate that required further expert analysis and investigation to support the investigation by the forensic pathologist.
"Those samples are yet to be obtained and as a consequence NT police are yet to receive that autopsy report.
"We cannot finalise that investigation until that's been obtained at this stage."
Asked why the officers involved had not been stood down during the investigation, Acting Deputy Commissioner Wurst said: "Because at this time, the way in which the investigation is being constructed, there isn't a reason to stand them down."
The ABC understands one of the officers involved in the altercation is police prosecutor Steven Haig.
Earlier this week, the ABC revealed Mr Haig was now leading the prosecution of Mr White's father.
Mr White's grandfather and respected Warlpiri elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves has previously demanded access to the CCTV footage of the incident and an independent investigation into his grandson's death.
He has also called for the officers involved in the incident to be stood down.
In response to the family's calls, NT Police Acting Commissioner Martin Dole said in June that the investigation was not "something we can just hand to somebody else".
In early June, the NT Police Force issued a statement indicating that the coronial investigation into Kumanjayi White's death had been "paused" while the criminal investigation was underway, before amending that statement, and then retracting it.
But on Friday, Acting Deputy Commissioner Wurst said "within days" of Mr White's death, police had stood up an "independent coronial investigation led by an assistant commissioner".
"That team has been investigating the coronial aspect of this … and that will take a considerable period of time," he said.
"The coroner is well-involved in that process also."
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