An aboriginal man who allegedly stabbed an elderly supermarket owner to death in Darwin had been granted bail on assault, rape and child sex charges just days earlier.
The 18-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, handed himself into police just after midnight on Friday, and was charged with murder on Friday evening, and was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court on Monday.
Police will allege he was stealing items from the Nightcliff Friendly Grocer at 5.15pm on Wednesday when store owner Linford Feick, 71, confronted him. He then allegedly fatally stabbed Mr Feick and fled the scene on a bicycle.
Police contacted the man’s family and community, who convinced him to turn himself in, NT Police Assistant Commissioner Travis Wurst said on Thursday.
The man had appeared in the Northern Territory Supreme Court on April 17, where his bail was continued with conditions requiring him to live at a “remote community” in the Top End and barring him from entering the Darwin CBD, The Australian reported. He was not required to wear an ankle bracelet.
He was facing three counts of rape, two counts of aggravated assault, and had also been charged with sexual intercourse with a child, assaulting a police officer, methamphetamine possession, depriving a person of their personal liberty, and spitting on an officer or emergency worker.
All of the charges were laid before he turned 18 three days ago.
In January he was spared jail and had no conviction recorded after pleading guilty to a car theft charge, and had another count of theft dismissed.
And in February last year he was given a 12-month good behaviour bond for burglary, theft and property damage.
NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro responded to the bail revelations on Thursday by promising to recall parliament to amend the laws to make sure judges are satisfied offenders pose no community risk before granting them bail.
“These laws are modelled off laws in both Victoria and NSW which set an overarching primary test for our courts which is the safety of the community is the number one priority,” she said
“We stand here ready. I spoke to the speaker of the Legislative Assembly and ask she reconvened parliament for Wednesday next week so that this new law can be ready and debated through all stages of parliament and she has agreed and I thank her for that.”
Police took less than 10 minutes to arrive at the scene of the fatal stabbing, where witnesses desperately provided first aid in an attempt to save Mr Feick’s life, but he died at the scene.
One witness said she called emergency services just after 5pm after seeing the alleged attack.
“As soon as we entered we heard the voice (of the man), he tried to kick (him out), while (he was) stealing things,” she said.
“Two staff members directed him to the door and suddenly (he) took out a knife and [allegedly] stabbed the man … and he collapsed.”
She described the alleged knifeman as “skinny”, aboriginal, and wearing black clothing.
Mr Feick’s wife Margaret spoke out in a Facebook post mourning her dead husband.
“I am sitting here at 3am too broken to go to sleep because my life has been shattered,” she wrote.
“My beautiful husband of 51 years was stolen from me, his children and his seven grandchildren. The trauma it has caused to the beautiful staff who we love as family, the trauma to our beautiful customers. Linford worked so sincerely to maintain the community vibe with smiles, trust and humanity.”
Header image: Left, the aboriginal man charged over the stabbing. Right, Linford Feick.
