Racist police awards, private text messages and Kumanjayi Walker's troubled upbringing: the NT Coroner went deep when investigating the cause of the Yuendumu shooting in 2019.

In this episode Melissa Mackay retraces the evidence presented to the Coronial Inquiry into Kumanjayi Walker's death, with all the tense courtroom moments and alarming revelations.

If you want to read more about the awards mentioned in this episode, check out this article by Mel.

If you have any questions you'd like Mel and Stocky to answer in future episodes, please email thecaseof@abc.net.au.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are advised a deceased person's name is used in this episode.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

05 Kumanjayi Walker | An avoidable death

Alan Jones was a broadcasting powerhouse, ruling the Sydney airwaves in the 1990s and 2000s with a fanbase of hundreds of thousands. 

But now, he has an audience of just one to convince. 

A single judge will hear Alan Jones's trial for historical indecent assault and sexual touching charges. Alan Jones insists on his innocence and is fighting all 22 charges from six male complainants. 

As this highly anticipated trial unfolds, The Case Of podcast will be your eyes and ears inside the courtroom.

Sydney court reporter Isobel Roe will join host Stephen Stockwell (the voice behind the Mushroom Case Daily podcast) to give you a front-row seat to the proceedings. Together they'll recap witness statements, break down the lawyer speak and keep you across the key evidence as the one-time radio titan fights to clear his name. 

The Case Of is your eyes and ears inside the courtroom for Australia's biggest trials, unpacking major trials recently heard in court and cases in the headlines. This podcast will explain how it all works and answer your questions along the way.

The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.

The response to Mushroom Case Daily was overwhelming, with more than 8,000 emails from listeners, many of them noting how the coverage had given them unprecedented insight into Australia's criminal judicial system. We decided to convert the podcast into an ongoing trial coverage feed to continue delivering on this front, following cases that capture the public's attention.

Additional seasons of The Case Of include:

The Airbnb Guest follows the trial of Timothy Loosemore, charged with murdering his host Maree Vermont, after a fire at her regional stone house property. Three juries were involved in this case, with one unable to reach a verdict.

Sharon's Disappearance follows the murder trial of her husband, 40 years after her disappearance in Perth. Full of bizarre twists and clues, the trial for Robert Fulton — now Raymond Reddington — covered life insurance claims, secret recordings, anonymous tip offs and real-life serial killers. With no body or weapon, and mostly circumstantial evidence, the prosecution had a difficult task to prove this cold case to a jury.

Maree Crabtree follows the trial of Gold Coast mother Maree Crabtree, who was accused of murdering two of her children, five years apart. She was tried and acquitted for Jonathan's murder, and later prosecutors dropped the murder charge relating to her daughter Erin's death.

The Two Intruders follows a cold case of Irma Palasics's murder. For decades, police hunted for the two intruders who robbed Palasics's Canberra home in 1999, leaving 72-year-old Irma Palasics dead, and her husband Gregor badly beaten.

Wheelie Bin Murder follows the trial of Sheree Glastonbury and three co-accused, including Sheree's current partner, Mark Murphy. Prosecutors allege Sheree Glastonbury overdosed her former partner Geoffrey McLean, then disposed of his torso in a wheelie bin.

Toyah's Murder, which follows the trial of 41-year-old Rajwinder Singh, charged for the murder of 24-year-old Toyah Cordingley, who was killed when she went for a walk with her dog on one of north Queensland's idyllic beaches, in 2018.

Kumanjayi Walker, a six-part series revisiting the murder trial and coronial inquest that followed the police shooting of a young Walpiri man in Yuendumu, in 2019.

Easey St Murders, which follows the committal hearing for alleged killer Perry Kouroumblis, who police believe attacked Suzanne Armstrong and Susan Bartlett in their Melbourne terrace house.

Snowtown Parole, which follows serial killer James Vlassakis's parole proceedings.

Romance Scam, which follows the trial and appeal of Perth woman Donna Nelson, who was charged with drug trafficking in Japan.

Croc Wrangler, which follows the reality star and Northern Territory celebrity Matt Wright, charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice related to the investigation of a fatal helicopter crash.

Mushroom Lunch continues to follow all proceedings related to Erin Patterson's triple murder conviction in July 2025, as covered in the back-catalogue of this feed under the Mushroom Case Daily series.