An inquest into the death of a young Aboriginal man forcibly restrained by police officers will consider hundreds of statements, including evidence from a pathologist engaged by his family.
Kumanjayi White, 24, died in Alice Springs in May 2025 after two plain-clothes officers held him down in a supermarket, sparking national outrage and rallies calling for an independent investigation.
In May the Northern Territory Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to prosecute the officers, opening the way for NT Coroner Elisabeth Armitage to schedule a four-week inquest from April 5 to 30 in 2027.
Counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwyer SC, told a directions hearing in Alice Springs on Monday the inquest's aim was not to "blame or shame" anyone but to get to the truth of how Mr White died.
That could lead to recommendations being made in a bid to prevent such a death in custody happening again, she said.
Mr White, who had a mental disability and was in care, died on May 27, 2025 in the Alice Springs supermarket's confectionery aisle.
Police allege he was shoplifting and assaulted a security guard.
The inquest would assess hundreds of written statements and hear evidence from witnesses in the supermarket, store staff, police, Mr White's family, doctors and carers, and experts, Dr Dwyer said.
One of the experts to give evidence would be experienced pathologist Professor Stephen Cordner of Monash University who had been engaged by Mr White's family to examine his body and provide an independent report.
The coroner on Monday ordered continuation of a suppression order banning publication of CCTV and bodyworn camera footage inside the supermarket, noting the family wanted that at this stage.
The footage would be made available to family and legal counsel.
She expressed her condolences to the family, saying her office was doing the best it could to complete the inquest in a timely and sensitive manner next year.
