At times during the Supreme Court hearing, the man appeared dazed and stared blankly as media and detectives sat in the public gallery. Ms Clarke, 29, was fatally shot by the police officer after her sister called triple-0 asking for help when she began acting erratically. She had days earlier been released from Bandyup Women’s Prison after serving jail time for stealing a mobile phone from a house and then setting fire to her cell because she thought “spirits” were inside. On the day she died a witness said he saw Ms Clarke walking down the street holding a knife in her hand when a police car began driving slowly alongside her, talking to her out the window. Three more police cars entered the street and eight officers got out of the vehicles. They told Ms Clarke to drop the knife, before she allegedly lunged at a first class constable who shot her once in the stomach. She died in hospital a short time later.

Loading In the wake of her death, Ms Clarke's mother Anne Jones demanded answers as to why the police officer used lethal force, sparking an internal investigation that five months later led to the police officer’s arrest. "They should have Tasered her ... she was under mental health, so why [shoot her], why did he do that?" she said. On Thursday, after hearing about the officer's arrest, Ms Jones said the whole Aboriginal community would watch the process with interest. "I'm glad that steps have been taken to bring justice for Joyce," she said.

WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson spoke to media on Thursday, and said it was a "very sad day" for all those involved. "The circumstances of what occurred in Geraldton are tragic and they have a long term impact on the lives of many people," he said. "They include Ms Clarke's family, the Geraldton and wider community and police officers right across our vast state. Support is being provided to all people involved in the incident and their families. "Today's event is rare and it is unusual in the history of West Australian policing." However, Mr Dawson also confirmed Ms Clarke's family were still unaware of the police officer involved's identity.

The Commissioner also called for calm in the Geraldton community as the judicial process progresses. The WA Police Union said it was supporting the member throughout the investigation and subsequent law proceedings. "We stand by the police officer 100 per cent and will do throughout this ordeal," president Harry Arnott said. "Our focus is on the member’s welfare and ensuring his rights are protected." National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project director Megan Krakouer said the Aboriginal community across Australia would watch the situation closely.

Ms Krakouer has worked to support 31 members of Ms Clarke's family since her death. "We can never forget the son of Ms Clarke, who now grows up without a mum," she said. George Newhouse from the National Justice Project said Ms Jones had "conducted herself with dignity throughout this traumatic and extended process". Joyce Clarke as a young child. "All she can do now is hope that there is a just outcome for her and her daughter,” he said.

Following Ms Clarke's death last year a group of people gathered outside the Geraldton Police Station, many holding the Aboriginal flag. Signs by protesters read "is it open season on blackfellas?", "what is a Taser for? RIP Joyce", and "black lives matter". The accused man will next appear in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on March 25. The arrest comes after a police officer in the Northern Territory was also charged with murder over the shooting death of a 19-year-old Indigenous man in November 2019. That police officer also alleges the deceased was wielding a knife before the shooting.