The grieving family of Kumanjayi Walker say the cop charged with his murder should be punished under Aboriginal law and be 'speared' if he is found guilty.

White police officer Zachary Rolfe, 28, is accused of shooting dead the 19-year-old during a botched arrest in his home in Yuendumu, 300km north-west of Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory, on Saturday night.

Rolfe was charged with one count of murder on Wednesday and was granted bail to appear in court in Alice Springs on December 19. He intends to plead not guilty.

Mr Walker's alleged murder has aggravated ongoing tensions between the Aboriginal community and police, who have been criticised for their treatment of indigenous people, as well as deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations.

Eddie Robertson, the grandfather of Mr Walker's partner, voiced his outrage upon learning Rolfe had been released on bail, calling the situation 'hopeless.'

Northern Territory cop Zachary Rolfe, 28, is accused of fatally shooting 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker during a botched arrest in Yuendumu on Saturday. Rolfe was granted bail to appear in court in Alice Springs on December 19

Kumanjayi Walker's death has sparked outrage among the Aboriginal community who have criticised police for their treatment of indigenous people, as well as deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations

He argued that if the tables were turned, an Aboriginal man charged with murder would not be released as easily.

Aboriginal traditional punishment: Aboriginal traditional punishments can take a wide variety of forms, depending on factors such as the locality, the sex, status and previous history of the wrongdoer, the sex, status and conduct of the victim. Traditionally they might have included: Death (either directly inflicted or by ‘sorcery’ or incantation)

Spearing (of greater or less severity) or other forms of corporal punishment (eg, burning the hair from the wrongdoer’s body)

Individual 'duelling' with spears, boomerangs or fighting sticks collective 'duelling' (including specially structured encounters such as the makarrata or minungudawada)

Shaming or public ridicule

More rigorous forms of initiation or teaching

Certain arrangements for compensation (eg through adoption or marriage)

Exclusion from the community (eg to a particular outstation or another community, or more rarely, total exclusion) Source: Australian Law Reform Commission Advertisement

'I believe that, in this case, maybe he [Rolfe] should go through Aboriginal law. He should be speared. He would still be alive after that,' Mr Robertson told The Australian.

Thigh-spearing is a form of traditional corporal punishment that is still practised in some Aboriginal communities.

Other traditional forms of Aboriginal punishment include 'duelling' with spears, boomerangs, or fighting sticks, public shaming, or even death, according to the Australian Law Reform Commission.

Mr Robertson also called on law enforcement to stop carrying guns in areas where people are unarmed, saying, 'nobody wants war with indigenous people.'

Mr Walker was from the Warlpiri tribe and members of the community have since banded together to call for justice.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, Azaria Nampjinpa Robertson, who referred to Mr Walker as her 'brother-in-law' echoed Mr Robertson's sentiments.

'Why is the [alleged] murderer getting bail, is it fun to take a human life, well if he's on bail come to Yuendumu for tribal punishment,' she said in a post.

Mr Walker's family were not told about his death until the morning after he was allegedly shot after believing overnight that he was still alive.

The incident occurred after two police officers showed up at Mr Walker's house to arrest him for alleged breaches of his suspended sentence, although the events leading up to the shooting are unclear.

With no medics in the town, Mr Walker was taken to a police station but died two hours after he was shot.

In a statement on Thursday, the Northern Territory Police Association (NTPA) said Rolfe would fight the murder charge.

'Whilst we acknowledge the tragic circumstances of the event, the member has made it clear that he will plead not guilty and will vigorously contest the charge,' the statement said.

'He, like all, has the presumption of innocence in his favour.

Kumanjayi Walker (pictured) was shot dead in his home in Yuendumu, Northern Territory. He was taken to a police station but died two hours after he was shot

Rallies have been held in Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide

Angry residents from the remote community of about 800 Warlpiri people gathered after the alleged shooting at the police station as officers locked themselves inside.

NT Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Michael White said after the alleged shooting Mr Walker had lunged at an officer and stabbed him with a weapon, which sources had said were scissors and a struggled ensued, but the family disputed that version.

The officers had body-worn cameras that have been viewed by NT police internal investigators.

Mr Walker was released from prison on October 21 over property and stealing offences but was being re-arrested for breaching the terms of his release.

Police had allowed Mr Walker to attend the funeral of a relative earlier that day.

There were no medical staff to initially help after the alleged shooting as Yuendumu Health Centre workers evacuated earlier on Saturday due to safety concerns.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service also delayed its response amid safety concerns before it was called off because the young man died.

Staff from Yuelamu Health Centre 60 km away were injured after going to Yuendumu following the shooting and assisting in pronouncing Mr Walker dead.

They were injured in community unrest and required evacuation to receive treatment for lacerations and bruises at the Alice Springs Hospital.

NT Police confirmed an officer had been charged with murder on Wednesday night. Pictured: Stock image of Yuendumu

Emotions are running high among Indigenous people in the NT and around the nation and the death has been a flashpoint for anger over the treatment of Aboriginal people by police, including deaths in custody, high prison rates, past massacres and the Stolen Generations.

The Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner and NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker flew to Yuendumu to assure people an independent investigation would be conducted.

Rallies have been held in Alice Springs, Darwin, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Hundreds of protesters chanted 'Justice for Walker' as a smoking ceremony took place in Darwin's near the steps of parliament on Wednesday.