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Constable Zachary Rolfe thought he could go on a "paid holiday" if he shot someone and "didn't care about, or like Indigenous people", the coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker has heard.
Key points:
- Claudia Campagnaro was in a relationship with Zachary Rolfe in 2018
- She alleged Constable Rolfe wanted to be "paid to shoot people"
- Constable Rolfe has not yet been called to give evidence to the inquest
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains an image of a person who has died, used with the permission of their family.
The officer's ex-fiancée gave evidence about her 12-month relationship with Constable Rolfe which started when she "fell for [the] charming fellow police officer" in early 2018.
"When you think you're in love with someone you're just going to listen to what they say and go with it," Ms Campagnaro said.
"I should have done things a lot differently, but that's hindsight for you."
The court heard that after Constable Rolfe was charged with murder over the 2019 shooting of Kumanjayi Walker, Ms Campagnaro told investigating police her partner had previously said to her "on several occasions… he would like to shoot someone so then he can go on a paid holiday".
"Because obviously when you shoot someone you go under investigation, like what is happening now, and you go on a paid holiday," Ms Campagnaro told police in 2020.
"I remember feeling at that time, uncomfortable about him saying that," she told the coroner on Friday.
Constable Rolfe was unanimously acquitted of all charges related to the death of Mr Walker after a Supreme Court trial earlier this year.
He has not yet given evidence to the coroner in response to Ms Campagnaro's claims.
Ms Campagnaro, who was also a police officer in Alice Springs in 2018, also told the court she thought Constable Rolfe wanted to join the special forces in the army and "wanted to be paid to go out and shoot people".
"It wasn't until later on in the relationship that I started thinking those comments were vile," Ms Campagnaro said.
Ex-fiancée alleges Rolfe's conduct was 'swept away' by superiors
Ms Campagnaro, who left the Northern Territory well before Kumanjayi Walker died, alleged Constable Rolfe "would use derogatory terms when referring to Indigenous people" and that his "unjustified" use of force incidents were "swept away" by superior officers.
Constable Rolfe's barrister told the court all use of force incidents involving Constable Rolfe have since been cleared by the Professional Standards Command.
Ms Campagnaro told the court she believed Constable Rolfe would rarely use his body-worn camera, including during the 2018 arrest of Indigenous man Malcolm Ryder.
Ms Campagnaro — who was a probationary constable at the time — interviewed Mr Ryder and told the court she recalled he made complaints about the use of force by police during the arrest.
"Over and over again [he complained]," Ms Campagnaro said.
Ms Campagnaro said Mr Ryder told her "the officer had the devil in his eyes".
"He just kept saying over and over again he hadn't done anything wrong," she said.
Ms Campagnaro told the court Mr Ryder, who required several stitches after the arrest, did not name Constable Rolfe as the officer involved.
She also told the inquest Mr Rolfe allegedly told her he had asked a senior officer to scratch his face after the arrest of Mr Ryder, in order to justify his use of force.
The inquest heard the charges against Mr Ryder were dismissed and local court Judge Greg Borchers criticised the conduct of some officers, including Constable Rolfe, when handing down his decision.
Under cross examination by Constable Rolfe's barrister, Ms Campagnaro agreed there was a "possibility" Mr Ryder could have been convicted on "fabricated evidence" of the scratches allegedly faked by Constable Rolfe.
"Why didn't you put a stop to the prosecution of Malcolm Ryder?" David Edwardson KC asked.
"I was in a relationship with [Zachary Rolfe]," Ms Campagnaro said.
Mr Edwardson KC: "You'd said nothing to anybody about the fabrication of evidence?"
Ms Campagnaro: "No, I hadn't."
Mr Edwardson KC: And indeed the very first person you ever made an allegation about Zachary Rolfe to was [in the police interview]?"
Ms Campagnaro: "Yes."
Mr Edwardson KC: "I suggest to you the allegations you've levelled against Zachary Rolfe are false and you know that they're false."
Ms Campagnaro: "Not true."
Ms Campagnaro told the coroner she "should have" reported the alleged incident.
Senior police cleared Constable Rolfe after internal investigation
The coroner heard a police investigation into Judge Borchers' findings had determined "there was no evidence to support" the allegations and the complaint against police had been closed.
Constable Rolfe's barrister, David Edwardson KC, read an email to the court from a member of the Professional Standards Command, which cleared Mr Rolfe of perjury or breaches of discipline.
The coroner heard the investigation had been conducted by the NT Police crime division and reviewed by senior officers.
The email also noted a civil case against NT Police in relation to the Malcolm Ryder arrest had also been closed.
Racist language used by 'majority' of Alice Springs police
During her evidence Ms Campagnaro spoke repeatedly of racist language she said she heard used both by her ex-fiancée and other officers, including sergeants, during her year at the Alice Springs police station.
She said terms like "coons" and "n******" were used "freely in the presence of everybody."
"I can't say everyone used that language, but the majority," she said.
Under questioning from Coroner Elisabeth Armitage, Ms Campagnaro said the language was frequently used in the vicinity of sergeants, who had their office doors open to the station's floor.
She said the language "shocked" her when she first started as a cop, "but then everyone around you is using those terms" and she became "desensitised."
Ms Campagnaro recalled a conversation she said occurred between Constable Rolfe and another person, in which Constable Rolfe allegedly said "Indigenous people's heads are like rocks."
She gave evidence she never heard a senior officer "pull up" another officer over their use racist language.
The coroner heard Ms Campagnaro also experienced sexism during her time in Alice Springs, telling the court she felt she was under more scrutiny than male officers and constantly pressured to prove herself.
Under questioning from Julian McMahon, representing members of the Yuendumu community, she agreed she had seen and experienced "hostility" towards women while working as a police officer.
The coronial inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker will continue on Monday.