Cop is arrested over the suspected shooting murder of an Aboriginal mother - as his name is hidden to protect his family's safety
- Joyce Clarke was fatally shot in Geraldton, WA in September last year
- A police officer was arrested and charged with murder on Thursday
- Ms Clarke's death has prompted protests, so the officer's identity is suppressed
- He was granted bail of $100,000 at the WA Supreme Court later on Thursday
A police officer has been arrested and charged with murder over the suspected shooting of an Aboriginal mother.
Joyce Clarke, 29, was shot on a street in the Geraldton suburb of Karloo in Western Australia's Mid West region at 6.30pm on September 17, 2019.
Paramedics rushed Ms Clarke to Geraldton Regional Hospital where she died of her injuries.
A male police officer was arrested in Geraldton on Thursday morning and was wearing a singlet top when he appeared in Perth Magistrates Court afterwards, according to the ABC.
Later in the day, he was granted bail of $100,000 at the WA Supreme Court.
Mother-of-one Joyce Clarke, 29, was shot on a street in the Geraldton suburb of Karloo in WA's Mid West region at 6.30pm on September 17, 2019. A police officer was charged over the shooting on Thursday
The accused officer's lawyer Linda Black apologised his lack of formal clothing, saying that he did not have enough time to get change when he was arrested.
Magistrate Mark Millington granted a suppression order on the officer's identity after fears the officer and his family could be put in danger.
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After Ms Clarke's death, the local Indigenous community protested outside of Geraldton police station, which prompted the judge to issue the suppression order.
Family and friends were furious that lethal force was used, rather than a Taser or pepper spray, with a crowd of about 100 protesters demanding answers outside the local police station in the days following Ms Clarke's death.
Protesters wielded signs including 'what is a Taser for?' as officers tried to lower the temperature.
Family and friends of Ms Clarke are furious that lethal force was used, rather than a Taser or pepper spray, with a crowd of about 100 protesters demanding answers outside the local police station
Ms Clarke is understood to have had mental health issues and was only released from custody at Bandyup prison shortly before her death.
She was confronted on Petchell Street by a group of police officers, when she lunged at them with a knife, a witness claimed at the time.
An officer then shot Ms Clarke in the stomach and she later died in hospital, police said.
In a statement at the time, regional police commander Alan Morton said: 'As you can imagine... it’s been equally traumatic for that officer.
'No one expects to commence duty and have to use lethal force in the execution of that duty, tragically that was not the case for that officer last night.
WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said the union was standing by its members involved in the 'tragic incident'.
'Our thoughts go out to the police officers involved and their families in this terrible circumstance,' he said.
Ms Clarke was shot dead on Petchell Street, Karloo - one of the suburbs of Geraldton
