Kumanjayi White Inquest Bombshell: Coles to Face Grilling Over Death in Custody as Family Demands Answers
- Australian supermarket giant Coles will appear at the coronial inquest into the death of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White, who died after being restrained by police in an Alice Springs store.
- The Warlpiri man’s family has called for greater transparency in the investigation, with no certainty yet whether charges will be laid against the involved police officers.
- NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has vowed to uncover the truth, saying the inquest will be a “slow but careful and considered process”.
In a dramatic development, Coles has been named as one of the parties expected to give evidence at the forthcoming inquest into the death of Kumanjayi White, a 24-year-old Warlpiri man who died after being restrained by plain-clothed police officers in an Alice Springs supermarket.
The incident, which sparked widespread protests across Australia, occurred in May this year when police allege Mr White was involved in a confrontation with security guards inside the Coles store. He was subsequently restrained by two police officers and died in custody.
Outside court, Mr White’s grandfather, Ned Jampijinpa Hargraves, an Indigenous elder, expressed his family’s frustration and anger at the lack of transparency in the investigation. “We have the right to know what happened to our loved one,” he said. “But you’re not showing us the CCTV footage, you’re not telling us the truth, and we cannot trust you with anything.”
NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage has promised to uncover the truth, saying the inquest will be a “slow but careful and considered process”. She has also acknowledged the family’s concerns, saying “we will do our best to keep you informed about this coronial process, and include you and your worries in this investigation”.
The inquest is expected to hear from a range of parties, including Coles, Life Without Barriers, which was responsible for Mr White’s care at the time of his death, and the NT Police Force. A further directions hearing is expected to be held in February next year, with no date or timeline yet put forward for the inquest itself to begin.
As the investigation continues, Mr White’s family remains hopeful that they will finally get the answers they have been seeking. “We want justice for our loved one,” said Mr Hargraves. “We want to know what happened to him, and we want those responsible to be held accountable.”
The case has sparked widespread outrage and calls for greater accountability in the treatment of Indigenous Australians in custody. The ABC has contacted Coles for comment, but the company has yet to respond.