The 18-year-old who allegedly killed a Darwin supermarket owner on Wednesday afternoon was on bail for multiple violent offences at the time of the stabbing, including sexual intercourse with a child under 16, depriving a person of their liberty, assaulting police and spitting on emergency workers, The Australian has reported.
He was charged with murder on Thursday night.
The teen, who turned 18 three days ago and cannot be named for legal reasons, was in the NT Supreme Court last week on numerous charges, but had his bail continued.
NT Police said he was not fitted with an electronic ankle monitor, but was ordered to remain in a remote community.
Police allege the 18-year-old male stabbed Nightcliff supermarket owner Linford Feick, 71, after Mr Feick confronted him for stealing items from the store around 5:15pm Wednesday afternoon and fled on a bicycle.
Patrons in the store provided first aid and emergency services attended and performed CPR but Mr Feick was later pronounced dead.
The alleged offender turned himself into the Palmerston Police Station around 12:35am Thursday morning.
NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said it was a “dark day for the Northern Territory”.
“This matter is currently under investigation by our crime team, with support from a myriad of other specialist areas,” he said. “A full investigation strategy is in play and we’re also investigating this matter on behalf of the coroner.”
Charges were laid Thursday evening, with the male remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday.
The Nightcliff stabbing death has drawn comparisons to the death of bottle shop worker Declan Laverty, who was stabbed by 19-year-old Keith Kerinauia two years ago at the Airport Tavern bottleshop while working his shift.
Kerinauia was also on bail at the time for aggravated robbery and aggravated assault, weeks before killing Mr Laverty.
The CLP ran a tough on crime political campaign at last August’s Territory election highlighting Mr Laverty’s death and later passing legislation called ‘Declan’s Law’ once elected, which was meant to provide a presumption against bail for serious violent offences, as well as giving police ‘wanding’ powers to find concealed weapons on people in the community.
Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro issued a video statement on Wednesday night, stating that the stabbing incident was “devastating” and pledging that “everything is on the table”.
She later wrote on social media that there would be “high visible policing to reassure the community” on Thursday.
Ms Finocchiaro also said on ABC Radio that Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby had been told to contact the Chief Justice and “plead” with him.
“I’ve asked the Attorney-General to reach out to the Chief Justice [Michael Grant] today, and just plead with the judiciary to really be exercising great caution in the decision-making that they undertake on a daily basis, while respecting that separation [of powers],” she said.
“There is absolutely a separation, but it is about asking them to be really, really careful on behalf of the safety of the community.”
Travis Wurst said it was a “dark day for the Northern Territory”. Surely, he means ANOTHER dark day.
The bail happy judge who let this criminal ticking time bomb back out on the street should be named and dismissed. At the very least reprimanded and reeducated.
But that won’t happen will it. The Chief Justice will see to that.
At what point in time do territorians reach a point that “our” NT ungovernable? An 18 year old recidivist walks in, loads up his needs, and walks out? He is confronted by the owner whom he then kills. He then presents himself at nearest Police Station. Eighteen years old. He knows and understands how the SYSTEM works. He has no human values left. There are literally hundreds and hundreds just like him. “I want . . . and I will”. We territorians are responsible! Governance riddled with corruption. Even a 70 year old lady in own home has to defend that home with a shovel? I spent 20 plus years working with criminalized youth on the streets. They are able to mature. If given appropriate options. But if left to their own devices, behaviours. Totally predictable. WE and our GOVT(S) have failed we “ALL”.
Regardless of how someone is raised it is up to them to choose how they behave. Too much leniency in the courts has caused another unnecessary death. I don’t know how judges and magistrates deal with the consequences of these decisions.
Ordered to remain in the community….so where are all those upstanding citizens in his community letting police know he wasn’t following his bail conditions – THEY are also responsible for this senseless killing!
And on it goes.
The CLP have started the ball rolling with laws and promises but until the Judiciary is reigned in and forced to impose commensurate sentencing to fit the crime (maybe giving the victims a say in the sentence as well) instead of the bare minimum regardless of the offence nothing is going to change
The Police do everything they can to uphold the law but there is absolutely no doubt that a lot of the Judiciary (and one in particular if you wish to go through the court records) simply let these criminals run free because of their skin colour.
All they are doing is creating endless work and wealth for their lawyer mates at the expense of the entire community.
It is high time that the Judiciary is elected not appointed so they are answerable to the community for their actions.
They will no doubt come out with a range of reasons as to why not but at the end of the day they are totally unaccountable for the havoc they continue to rain down on our entire society, the unabated lawlessness and total disrespect held for other peoples lives and properties.
Everyone that comes before them has a poor bugger me excuse that is accepted immediately and the barest minimum penalty or none if possible imposed.
The criminal then heads off thinking that they have gotten away with it and continue on their criminal ways in the belief they are untouchable. Then they finally get to the fatal mistake, someone loses their life, the perpetrator gets serious jail time, lives are devastated, and the Judiciary carries on setting the next one up to fail.
This could all be stopped with serious penalties early in their career rather than pathetic “naughty boy” warnings over and over again.
There is no fear of the law or penalties to be imposed for their terrorism because these kids know damn well that they are going to get away with just about anything eg: on bail for rape and assault.
Now another terrific member of our community has paid with his life.
The Judiciary is entirely complicit in his death through their actions.
Sincere condolences to Lins’ family and friends. Please don’t be silent about this atrocity.
Name the judge that gave that violent criminal bail then charge the judge with murder/manslaughter.
Or, give us the name of the judge and Territorians will show that sorry excuse of a human what justice really means.
That judge is responsible for that poor man’s death. I am more than infuriated at the moment.
Name the fool loosely called a judge who gave the POS bail then sack them, introduce mandatory sentencing and tell the moronic Judges if they don’t follow the peoples expectations that they are out on their ear.
The Courts and Aboriginal legal aid are a club, linked by the conviction they alone understand contemporary Aboriginal criminality. They do not.
I have lost count of the offenders, juvenile and adult, who escape custodial sentences and are sent to “a homeland, where elders will inculcate the offender with proper codes of behaviour”. All in court nod sagely and the judge or magistrate delivers a homily prior to the offender being set free.
Is there regular follow-up as the law prescribes? Hell no. Next case, next farce, next to join the recidivist club. Funerals and homeland treatment are a revolving door, used for beating the rap, to justify sickies, gain free finance for holidays, or to meet a girlfriend. The official gullibility is quite mind-boggling. But these endless bails for violent criminals are in a shocking category of their own.
This is a field I have worked in and, contrary to the views of rednecks, many of these offenders can be pushed to conform to the straight and narrow, but the law requires genuine monitoring and this almost never happens.
I and a NT Police officer proved it can be done but the judiciary, frankly, do not want success stories. Crime is lucrative, maybe not for the criminals but most certainly for the lawyers and judiciary. There is one word applicable: ‘Corruption’.
Twice, I have sent documents to the Chief Minister for referral to the Minister concerned and true to form, there has been no response. Actually, no minister in this government appears to be even remotely interested in solving Territory problems. The only opinions that matter are those of members of Cabinet, which seem to me to be entirely self-serving. The disappointment of Territorians runs deeper than the Chief Minister appears to realise.
Where is the investment in corrections? Chucking people in jail with no rehabilitation is stupidity. Its very convenient for politicians to blame the judiciary, but where is the govt accountability for the rest of the justice and corrections systems, bursting at the seams and losing key staff? Where is the accountability for not providing young people and families in the bush and in town opportunities for a decent education, work, access to safe housing and a vision for their future? Without this, each generation of Territorians will be more dysfunctional and more violent.
Billions of dollars have been thrown at them.
Thank you Lia for your stand, but is it not possible for the position to be that there is no bail for any violence charge without court proven doubt of guilt. my heart and prayers and those of all our listeners Go out to Mr Feick’s Family in this time of such pain and sadness
Hello Liar sorry LIA,
I have a spare R for you, all cut out and painted RED. I’m asking Territorians to consider displaying a RED “R” for you need one!
MAY I SUGGEST
How about strengthening Declan’s law by mandating judges do “WHAT WE ALREADY BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE DOING”
Oh sorry, that’s-what you’re suggesting now! My apologies!
There is a saying, “you’d have to have 2 dicks to be that stupid!
NO IM NOT GIVING THIS LEVEL OF STUPID ANY HELP!
OH and that song comes to mind!
You know it!
I’ve changed the lyrics, come on LIAR sorry LIA ,sing it, whilst dancing it for Territorians
“ Let’s talk about SAM baby”
Let’s talk about SAM baby”
Let’s talk about all the good things”
All the BAD things”
Territorians can’t wait to hear,”
LETS TALK ABOUT SAM!
Things they make Territorians say -Hmmmm hmmm!