Northern Territory police will not lay any charges against officers after an Indigenous man died while being restrained in an Alice Springs supermarket in 2025.
Kumanjayi White, a 24‑year‑old Warlpiri man who lived with cognitive disabilities, died on 27 May last year during a confrontation with police in a Coles supermarket.
Police alleged White was shoplifting and said plainclothes officers had stepped in after an altercation with a security guard.
White’s family are suing NT police over the death, alleging that two officers involved acted unlawfully in apprehending him and taking him into custody.
On Tuesday, the NT police commissioner, Martin Dole, announced that the department of police prosecutions declined to lay charges, citing a lack of available evidence after “a thorough investigation”.
“Every effort was made to ensure the investigation was appropriately resourced and conducted in a thorough and fair manner,” Dole said.
“A brief of evidence was submitted to the director of public prosecutions for their opinion. Following consideration of all available evidence, including the independent expert report, the DPP formed the view that there was no reasonable prospects of a successful prosecution,” Dole told reporters.
“I acknowledge immediately that this outcome will cause significant distress, pain and anger for Kumanjayi White’s family and for many Aboriginal people across Central Australia and the territory.”
White’s 2025 death sparked outrage and rallies, with calls for accountability and an independent probe. Those calls were echoed by federal MP and member for Lingiari, Marion Scrymgour.
Dole said communities in the Central Australian community were in mourning in recent weeks after the alleged murder of 5-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, with her death prompting an outpouring of anger and grief as well as unrest.
“It’s been an extraordinarily pressured time for Central Australia… [And] it’s been an extraordinarily pressured time for the Warlpiri community and our thoughts are with them.”
Leanne Liddle, the Deputy Director of Cultural Reform with the NT police, said White’s family were being provided with support as the community mourns.
“They have had significant events in the last couple of weeks, and the event from today, so we’re supporting those families, and have since the event 12 months ago, and have since a few weeks ago in Alice Springs,” Liddle said.
ABC reported that the family would be holding a week-long “blackout” after being told the news via senior officers. Police flew to the remote community of Lajamanu to inform White’s mother and the maternal side of the family.
According to ABC reporting, the family of White released a statement that read: “We have got no hope. When will we have our justice? How can we keep living like this?
“Today the police turned up in Lajamanu with the acting director of public prosecutions and told the family that they are not proceeding with any charges.
“With hardly any notice, without asking permission, they just turned up in Lajamanu with their police plane,” ABC News reported.
In an earlier media statement, NT police said they acknowledged the result would be emotional for the wider territory.
“We recognise this will be an emotional day for many people across the Northern Territory and ask the community to respond peacefully and respectfully.”
Victorian independent senator and Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung woman Lidia Thorpe held a snap press conference after the announcement. She urged police accountability and said there was “no justice”.
“I’m devastated. And I’m sick of being angry and devastated when I get these stories,” Thorpe told reporters. “There’s no accountability, no justice for my people ever. Where there is no justice, there is no peace. We don’t have peace in our lives. We’re dealing with this every day.”
She said more than 600 Aboriginal people had died in custody since the 1991 royal commission report was handed down. “It’s been over 600. Not one police officer has ever been held accountable ever. Why isn’t that a national crisis?”
Police said any CCTV vision and other available evidence will form part of the mandatory coronial investigation into White’s death, which is expected to be held at a later date. A court hearing is slated for next month.
The family had previously called for the officers involved to stand down while the criminal investigation was ongoing, and called for an investigation independent of NT authorities.
-
Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
