Northern Territory police are not laying criminal charges over the death of 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White, who died while restrained during an interaction with police at an Alice Springs supermarket. White’s family has been told that no charges will be pursued, and they respond with distress following the investigation’s outcome. The police commissioner says the decision closes the criminal case against the officers involved. However, the cause of White’s death is still not determined. Multiple outlets report that the incident occurred at Coles in Alice Springs on 27 May last year, during a confrontation when officers restrained White. Reports also note that White lived with cognitive disabilities, and his death has raised concerns within the broader Indigenous community. The commissioner acknowledges that the result has caused significant distress for White’s family and wider community, while stating that police investigations do not change the status of an open question about the cause of death. No charges are laid, but the circumstances leading to White’s death remain under investigation outside the criminal process.
NT police decide not to lay charges in death of Kumanjayi White
Northern Territory police are not laying criminal charges over the death of 24-year-old Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White, who died while restrained during an interaction with police at an Alice Springs su...
- Northern Territory police decide not to lay criminal charges over Kumanjayi White’s death while restrained at an Alice Springs supermarket.
- White died on 27 May last year at Coles during a confrontation with police.
- White’s family is informed that no charges will be pursued.
- The criminal case against the officers who restrained him is closed.
- Police say the cause of White’s death is still not known.
The Northern Territory police commissioner says the cause of 24-year-old Kumanjayi White's death in custody remains undetermined, with the criminal case against the officers who restrained him now closed.
3 months agoPolice commissioner acknowledges outcome causes ‘significant distress’ for 24-year-old Warlpiri man’s family and wider communityWarning: This article contains references to Indigenous Australians who have diedNorthern 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. Continue reading...
3 months agoAn Indigenous family is “heartbroken” after being updated on the investigation into their son’s death in police custody at an Alice Springs supermarket.
3 months agoThe family of the 24-year-old man who died while in police custody at an Alice Springs supermarket last year has released a statement after hearing no charges would be laid over his death.
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