The Northern Territory news Thu 16 Jul 2020
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2020-07-16
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/10070/805874
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/806638
THURSDAY JULY 16 2020 NEWS 05 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA WEST Daly Regional Council chief executive and former AFLNT board member Shaun Hardy has failed in a bid to overturn an assault conviction after strangling his partner and telling her Im not afraid to murder. The St Marys premiership player pleaded guilty in the Darwin Local Court in December last year to aggravated assault following the incident on Hardys appeal dismissed JASON WALLS Court Reporter September 13 and was convicted and sentenced to a 12month good behaviour bond. The court heard the couple were asleep at their home in Stuart Park when Hardy woke and for unknown reasons became anxious and aggressive, demanding the woman tell (him) the answer. Hardy then told her no one will be sleeping tonight and Im not afraid to murder, took her mobile phone and unplugged the landline so she was unable to call for help. He then placed both hands around her neck and began to squeeze and said this will be the end tonight. He then dragged her towards the kitchen saying one of us has to die and it will be you. The woman eventually managed to escape to a neighbours house and called the police who arrived and arrested Hardy. His lawyer, John Lawrence SC, told the court Hardy was experiencing mental unwellness, and said his outburst that night was just a genuine piece of derangement, probably triggered by stress. Chief Judge Elizabeth Morris pointed out there was no expert evidence to suggest Hardy was mentally ill but Mr Lawrence argued it was apparent from the disturbing offending itself that he had a mental apparition. In sentencing, Ms Morris noted Hardys prior good character and contribution to the community but said domestic violence was all too com mon and she must send a message to others. I have no explanation, apart from the stresses that you may have been under, of which I am unaware, about why you would react in this particularly frightening manner on this particular evening, she said. Hardy appealed his conviction in the Supreme Court but in dismissing the appeal, Justice Graham Hiley ruled the good behaviour bond was itself reflective of a lenient dis position. (Prosecutor David) Castor pointed out that Mr Lawrence SC had made concessions that there was no direct evidence of mental illness or disturbance and was unable to identify anything extenuating other than stress, he said. He stressed that domestic violence is no longer a private affair, as is well recognised by the various decisions at appellate court level. I agreed with those contentions. West Daly Regional Council was contacted for comment. Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise boasts a range of new facilities to help tourists check out the Adelaide Rivers intimidating inhabitants. Picture: CHE CHORLEY Crocs jumping for interstate visitors WITH NT borders opening up tomorrow to interstate tourists, Spectacular Jumping Crocodile Cruise will officially test out its new facilities for the first time today. The Arirrki Aboriginal Corporation, which operates the business, and the Anindilyakwa Land Council have spent $1.3 million upgrading the viewing platform and shopfront, toilet block, septic system and boat over the past 18 months. Weve got a nice place to be here now, you can sit up here and look down the river and see some crocodiles if youre lucky, site manager Deanna Field said. It makes a big different compared to what we used to be, we used to be the rus tic thing and weve gone a little fancier. Ms Field said the accessible facilities would help bring cruise ship passengers to the business on the Adelaide River, with the upgrade bringing the daily capacity to between 450 and 500 people. They had 1.2m of water come through in 2018 if there is ever another flood everythings up out of the water, she said. Were open all year around so it makes it a lot better up here out of the wet. While nervous about the border opening at midnight tonight, Ms Field said it was important for operators to invest in their businesses and stay positive. Its really important to change and suit the circumstances, otherwise well be left behind, she said. WILL ZWAR will.zwar@news.com.au DARWINS BEST PRICED HIRE RATES ON ALL OUR EQUIPMENT 8947 1102 Winnellie NT 8931 4449 Yarrawonga NT Locally owned and operated