A 19-year-old facing allegations of seriously injuring someone with a weapon has been released on bail due to lengthy wait times in cases progressing to the Northern Territory Supreme Court.
Darcy Skeen was charged with acts intended to cause serious harm and publishing material related to offending conduct earlier this week, making him the first adult to face court under the NT government’s new post and boast laws.
Mr Skeen appeared in person before Darwin Local Court judge Greg MacDonald on Friday after spending the night at the Palmerston police watch house.
Mr Skeen’s lawyer, Ganur Maynard from the Northern Australia Aboriginal Justice Agency, indicated his client would be fighting the charges and made an application for the young man to be released on bail.
Darcy Skeen walked out of court beside his lawyer after he was granted bail on Friday. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)
Mr Maynard said his client was capable of complying with “onerous” bail conditions and was not at risk of fleeing the jurisdiction.
Judge MacDonald said his primary concern was the risk of Mr Skeen reoffending while on bail.
“The allegations include extremely serious injuries and an edged weapon,” the judge said.
Mr Maynard said the allegations pertained to “an ongoing feud between Mr Skeen’s family and the neighbour and his family” and under the proposed bail conditions, Mr Skeen would not be allowed to visit the suburb of Moulden to ameliorate the risk of further conflict.
Ganur Maynard says his client will fight the charges. (ABC News: Olivana Lathouris)
The prosecution told the court Mr Skeen was facing a presumption against bail, describing his alleged offending as “extremely serious”.
“We are opposed to bail on the basis that police are concerned he will commit further offending,” the prosecution said.
“At this stage it looks to be a strong prosecution case and if found guilty on the charges currently laid he would be serving a term of imprisonment.”
Judge MacDonald ultimately released Mr Skeen, citing a 12-month wait time for matters to progress to trial.
“I’m giving you bail today because of the amount of time it’s going to take for this matter to get to the Supreme Court for you to stand trial,” he said.
“You won’t get another chance from me so for goodness sake follow the rules and don’t break them.”
Mr Maynard also requested his client be fitted with an electronic monitoring device, however the judge said police had run out.
The new Country Liberal Party NT government has implemented laws against “posting and boasting” about crime on social media. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)
The case comes two weeks after the NT government passed Declan’s Law, which saw the presumption against bail extended on a wider range of offences in a bid to keep more accused offenders on remand.
The case will return to court in January.
Legal Aid to ‘revisit’ some cuts to critical legal services
As the Country Liberal Party’s tranche of crime reforms begin to trickle down to the court system, one of the NT’s biggest providers of legal services, Legal Aid NT, is struggling to manage “extraordinarily high levels of demand”.
Head of the Legal Aid NT board, Duncan McConnel SC told the ABC the demand was putting increased pressure on the service while it was simultaneously dealing with a funding shortfall.
Duncan McConnel says the extra money for Legal Aid NT means the organisation can reconsider some planned service cuts. (ABC News: Michael Franchi)
“We are looking at ways we can innovate and adjust, as solutions are found and funding pressures ease, to ensure that services are provided equitably, and to those with the greatest need,” Mr McConnel said.
In early October Legal NT announced it would be forced to cut critical services, sparking concerns vulnerable people would be left without legal representation in the new year.
The NT government responded by granting the service an extra $1 million while it said it would consider longer-term solutions.
Mr McConnel said the funding was welcomed and had enabled the organisation to “revisit the timing and scope of cuts to services, such as frontline services in Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Katherine, and some bush and community courts”.
