Court rejects Indigenous elder's genocide case against King Charles
Victoria's Court of Appeal dismissed Krautatungalung elder Robbie Thorpe's attempt. He wanted to prosecute King Charles III over alleged genocide.
Victoria's Court of Appeal rejected Aboriginal elder Robbie Thorpe's bid to prosecute King Charles III over alleged genocide. The ruling was his third legal defeat since 2023.
Thorpe's case alleged the king maintains systems that disadvantage Indigenous people. The Australian government and its institutions do the same.
The court found the charges did not describe a crime known to Victorian law. Thorpe plans to seek permission to appeal to the High Court.
If that fails, he will take his allegations to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands. Head-of-state immunity does not apply there.
- Robbie Thorpe, Krautatungalung elder
- Complainant
- King Charles III
- Defendant
- Three since 2023
- Legal defeats
- International Criminal Court, Netherlands
- Next venue
Why it mattersThe case raises questions about who should answer for Indigenous dispossession under Australian law.
AustraliaThe ruling reflects limits in Australian courts to address historical and ongoing Indigenous grievances through genocide allegations against the Crown.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 1 h ago
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