Darwin BWS Worker Tragic Death: A young man, Keith Kerinauia, accused of fatally stabbing Declan Laverty, a worker at a Darwin bottleshop, is preparing to argue that he acted in self-defense.
Laverty, a 20-year-old employee at a BWS near Darwin airport, met his tragic end when he was allegedly stabbed by 19-year-old Kerinauia, who was on bail for aggravated assault at the time.
Kerinauia is facing murder charges and is scheduled to go to trial in the Supreme Court in June. In a recent pre-trial hearing, Chief Justice Michael Grant inquired about the expected duration of the case, emphasizing the presumed defense of self-defense.
Prosecution lawyer Marty Aust revealed that the trial would involve a unique aspect as the entire incident was captured on CCTV footage. With 28 civilian witnesses and 23 police witnesses, the trial is set to be slightly novel.
The prosecution plans to present evidence regarding allegations against Kerinauia before the fatal incident, aiming to establish a pattern of unprovoked violent attacks and a propensity for excitement in violence over an extended period.
The matter is scheduled for another hearing in February before the trial commences on June 7.
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Declan Laverty’s death in March, amidst a season marked by rising crime rates, sent shockwaves through the Northern Territory (NT), leading to protests and petitions. A petition led by his mother, Samara Laverty, garnered over 26,000 signatures, urging the government to enact “Declan’s Law.” This proposed legislation calls for stricter bail laws for first-time and repeat offenders, along with enhanced weapon restrictions.
While the government implemented bail law reforms in March, creating a presumption against bail for serious offenses involving certain weapons, and introduced new “wanding” laws in July to allow police to search individuals for weapons in 16 high-risk areas in the NT, critics, including Ms. Laverty and the NT opposition, argue that these measures fall short in addressing the persisting crime rates.
The high-profile murder trial is poised to occur just weeks before the NT election, where crime laws are expected to be a major focal point.
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Our Reader’s Queries
Who was the BWS worker stabbed in Darwin?
20-year-old Declan Laverty was working at a BWS near Darwin airport when 19-year-old Keith Kerinauia, who was out on bail for aggravated assault, allegedly stabbed him to death. Kerinauia has been accused of murder and is scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court for trial in June.