Content Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following includes the names of First Nations people who have passed away.
On 23 October, the family of Kumanjayi White spoke to media outside Alice Springs Local Court, calling for transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigation into Kumanjayi White’s death in police custody on 27 May 2025.
Despite the Northern Territory Police handing over a brief of evidence report to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) over a month ago, the family has received no update on whether criminal charges will be laid against those involved.
This comes after months of investigation and repeated demands from the family for transparency around the process.
The family of Kumanjayi White will not let this injustice rest and they are currently preparing for a major demonstration in Darwin at Parliament House on 22 November. More details will be shared soon.
Warlpiri Elder Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, Kumanjayi White’s grandfather, said:
“It is five months since my Jaja (grandson) died in police custody and still we have no justice, still we are being told to wait. We have been told there is a criminal investigation and police have given a brief of evidence to the DPP, but the police involved my Jaja’s death are still on duty! How is this possible? They must be stood down immediately.
“We know that if an Aboriginal person had done this, they would be behind bars. We want parumpurru – Justice. It is sacred. Kardiya — white people — don’t respect it, but we respect it, because parumpurru is the truth. We are still fighting a bunch of rlinjirrpa — aggressive bullies. We’re not getting any truth from the colonial system.
“We are announcing today that our families are going to travel all the way to Darwin in big numbers for a protest at Parliament House on November 22. We will join with other communities to take a stand against the racist CLP government. We want an end to this government and their policies that are locking up and killing our people. We are suffering. We want the Prime Minister to take action and force them to change. We will keep fighting for justice for Kumanjayi White and all our people.”
George Newhouse, Principal Solicitor of the National Justice Project, said:
“The ongoing delays and uncertainty are eroding what little faith the family has in our legal system. The family continues to demand that the officers be stood down immediately now that a brief has been sent to the DPP.
“How the police and the DPP have handled this situation is another example of how the colonial justice system fails First Nations people. An independent investigation is still urgently needed.” The National Justice Project continues to support Kumanjayi White’s family in their call for truth, justice, and accountability.”
IMPORTANT NOTE: Nothing in this statement should be taken as suggesting that criminal charges have actually been laid against any individual or that anyone is criminally responsible for the death, as that is a matter for the DPP and the court.
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