The Northern Territory news Fri 22 May 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-05-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/256932
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/516427
FRIDAY MAY 22 2015 NEWS 03 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA Rough justice inside AN INMATE who bashed a violent rapist in jail will today learn if the assault will lengthen his sentence. Dennis Cooper, 24, yesterday admitted punching and kicking Wayne Hampton in a joint attack in January 2014. Hampton is serving a 24year sentence for the brutal rape of a 21-year-old woman in 2005. A jury found him guilty of 13 charges that included sexual assault with a hammer handle. Prosecutor David Dalrymple told the NT Supreme Court Hampton was reading a newspaper in the table tennis section of the old Berrimah jail when the attack occurred. The court heard Coopers co-accused yet to face court was the main perpetrator. The incident left Hampton with a broken arm and a 7cm cut to his forehead. Defence lawyer Marty Aust said Cooper had a genuine belief Hampton intended to stab him. When he told prison officers after the attack, they found two pens wrapped in stickytape a banned item in Hamptons cell. Mr Dalrymple said the prosecution did not believe there was a direct threat made to Cooper or his co-accused. But he said he was not in a position to dispute Cooper had been told by other inmates about the threat. The court also heard Hampton had repeatedly publicised photos to inmates that showed the injuries he had inflicted on an Alice Springs prison officer. Acting Justice Dean Mildren said it sent the strong message of dont muck around with me or look what I can do. Mr Aust asked Acting Justice Mildren to partially suspend any jail term and backdate it to July 2014. Mr Aust said Cooper who was jailed for six years in 2009 for bashing a man with a metal pole had matured, was now held in low security and had good prospects for rehabilitation. He said his client had been punished enough because he had been unable to apply for parole. Mr Dalrymple said people, even those in jail, were entitled to be kept safe from violent attacks. The prosecutor said it would be completely inappropriate for Cooper to be released in August, his scheduled release date following the original attack. Cooper will be sentenced today. Jail attack on rapist could cost inmateSHAE MCDONALD AUSTRALIAN music royalty faced off against Australian crocodile royalty yesterday when BASSINTHEGRASS act Birds of Tokyo did the cage of death with Crocosaurus Coves Kate and Will. The band, on their first visit to Darwin since playing the festival in 2011, had the chance to meet 800kg Wendell and 700kg Burt before taking the plunge. Guitarist Adam Spark said the snap of the croco diles jaws made for an impressive warm-up act to the main event with Kate and Will. Its a bit more intimidating than being up on stage, he said. The band have been in town all week, escaping the southern winter and conducting private rehearsals at the Chippo. CRAIG DUNLOP Crocodile Rockers Glenn Sarangapany, front, and Ian Berney of Birds of Tokyo in the Cage of Death yesterday, taking the plunge (inset right) and, left, the band which is one of the headline acts at BASSINTHEGRASS tomorrow Picture: HELEN ORR