fit the bill
NT inquest must address systemic problems Slava Ukraini! - and the free world continues to marvel at the heroic resistance by the brave Ukrainian people to Putin’s barbarous invasion. Well done, Poland, for pledging its entire Mig 29 fleet of 28 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and shame on Biden for trying to stop it. I do not see much difference between supplying a surface to air missile that will be operated by a Ukrainian soldier and a Mig 29 operated by a Ukrainian pilot. One suggestion on ‘no fly’ zones - why not impose a couple of no fly corridors to get essential supplies into Ukraine from the West and refugees out? There is a precedent: the Berlin airlift in 1948/49. The West must remain resolute. As Margaret Thatcher once said to another American president: “This is no time to go wobbly, George”. Closer to home, the trial of former Canberra man and NT police officer Zachary Rolfe finished with a predictable not guilty verdict. Constable Rolfe served in Afghanistan and had been decorated for bravery whilst in the NT police force. His parents are well known and greatly respected Canberra identities. No one was the winner in this
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unseemly saga and Constable Rolfe, his family and the family of the deceased conducted themselves with dignity and restraint throughout, unlike some people such as Greens justice spokeswoman Lidia Thorpe who commented after the verdict “No justice, no peace”. Canberra Judge John Burns presided in his usual competent manner over a difficult trial and summed up for the jury in a methodical, clear, and fair way. Any verdict other than not guilty in the circumstances would have been perverse as all the evidence pointed to Constable Rolfe just doing his job in very difficult, life-threatening circumstances. With the propensity these days of some groups to be quite intolerant of other views, the presumption of innocence until proven guilty (a bulwark of our system) is under threat. However, juries are known to usually get it right and the onus is on the prosecution to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt. The decision by the big wigs in the NT police to charge Constable Rolfe was purely political.
WITH BILL STEFANIAK AM RFD FORMER ACT OPPOSITION LEADER
There was little or no evidence to support the charges. In my view, it never should have been made and has only served to cause unnecessary angst to the Rolfe family, Mr Walker’s family and his community. There should have been a coronial inquest first and, as a result of the evidence given at the inquest, a decision should then have been made as to whether there was sufficient evidence to charge Constable Rolfe. Inquests also serve the purpose of correcting systemic problems and there were many problems in Mr Walker’s remote community that needed correcting as it seems there are in what appears to be a politicised NT police force. Let’s hope the coming inquest does just that. Editor’s note: The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Canberra Weekly.
