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NT police officer involved in Alice Springs death in custody leads case against Kumanjayi White's father

NT police officer involved in Alice Springs death in custody leads case against Kumanjayi White's father

The police prosecutor who was involved in the death in custody of Kumanjayi White in Alice Springs is now involved in the prosecution of Mr White's father.
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 their family.
The ABC understands NT prosecutor Steven Haig was one of two plain-clothed officers involved in restraining Mr White at Coles supermarket on May 27.
Mr White's arrest followed an alleged confrontation with security guards inside the supermarket.
The 24-year-old Warlpiri man from Yuendumu, who was living in Alice Springs due to his disabilities, died soon after his arrest.
Mr White's death prompted a wave of vigils around Australia and an outpouring of grief from Mr White's family.
Mr Haig has continued working as a police prosecutor in Alice Springs, while NT Police investigate Mr White's death and "whether any criminality was involved".
Nearly three months on, the cause of Mr White's death remains undetermined as NT Police wait for a forensic pathologist to "complete further investigation".
NT Police has previously said the initial autopsy was inconclusive.
Police have also ruled out the possibility of an independent inquiry into Mr White's death, despite repeated calls from his family, community groups, advocates and politicians.
Mr White's father by kinship, Martin 'Isaac' Jabarula White, appeared in custody on Wednesday at Alice Springs Local Court, charged with contravening a domestic violence order.
The court heard the charges were dismissed as they were "improperly laid" due to an administrative error.
Court documents seen by the ABC show Mr Haig signed off on this improperly laid charge.
Speaking outside court, Mr White told the ABC it was wrong Mr Haig could sign off on his charges given the officer's involvement in his son's death.
"My message is just: get him out of [a] job."
Soon after being granted bail, Mr White was arrested and charged again over the same offence when retrieving his personal items from the police watch house.
He will now spend a second night in custody at the Alice Springs watch house.
Human rights groups and the police union have previously raised concerns about conditions inside the NT's overcrowded police watch houses, where the lights remain on 24 hours a day.
In a statement, NT Police said it "will not be identifying any of the individuals involved in the incident".
"No charges have been laid in relation to this incident and the officers involved have not been stood down," the spokesperson said.
"The community can be assured that a thorough investigation is being carried out to determine the circumstances and cause of Kumanjayi White's death."
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