Judge urges jurors to ‘guard against’ emotion when considering verdict in Zachary Rolfe murder trial

Constable Zachary Rolfe outside court in Darwin. The jury has retired to consider its verdict in his trial over the death of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi Walker. Photograph: Aaron Bunch/AAP

The judge presiding over the murder trial of Northern Territory constable Zachary Rolfe has urged the jury to ignore emotion or sympathy that may have arisen during confronting evidence in the case when they consider their verdict.

Judge John Burns gave the jury his directions in the supreme court on Thursday. The jurors have now retired to consider their verdict after an almost five-week trial.