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WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of a person who is deceased.
A Northern Territory police officer who shot dead an Indigenous teenager would likely have been rejected from joining the force if a disciplinary issue during his time in the army had been known, an inquest has been told.
During evidence on Thursday, counsel assisting said Constable Zachary Rolfe had not revealed to the NT interview panel that he had pleaded guilty to a military charge of theft and had been put on probation for two years as a result.
Psychologist Dr Bruce Van Haeften, who was on the interview panel, said had he known that information at the time he would have assumed Rolfe's failure to disclose the details was deliberate and deceitful.
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Van Haeften said it would have likely resulted in his application being rejected.
"If I had discovered that type of omission for any candidate, it's unlikely I would have recommended recruitment, due to the perceived dishonesty," he said.
"And due to the importance of being honest and forthcoming with relevant information."
The inquest was also told that at the time of his NT interview, Rolfe had been rejected by the Queensland police force for failing to reveal he had been involved in a public fight in Townsville in 2011.
While he revealed details of the fight and his subsequent fine to the NT recruiters, he indicated his Queensland application was still pending.
In the end, the interview panel determined Rolfe to have "excellent potential" at the same time noting he returned an above-average aggression score in psychological testing.
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The inquest in Alice Springs is inquiring into the death of Kumanjayi Walker, 19, who died after Rolfe shot him three times during a botched arrest in Yuendumu, northwest of Alice Springs, on November 9, 2019.
Const Rolfe was charged with murdering the Warlpiri man but was acquitted after a Supreme Court trial.
In evidence on Wednesday, the inquiry was told that at the time of Walker's death, the officer was facing an internal investigation amid concerns over his use of force.
Police records showed there were 46 use-of-force incidents reported for Const Rolfe between December 2016 and November 2019.
He was also cited for failing to activate his body-worn camera 13 times in three years.
The inquest continues.
Source: 9News
