SA Government says criminal Nikola Novakovich should be assessed for violence, and monitored, now jail term is over
A man with a secret criminal history, who was acquitted of an infamous Outback cold case murder, is out of jail — and the SA Government wants a court to let it track his every movement.
The man acquitted of the Karen Williams cold case murder — but whose criminal history is suppressed — is back in the community and will be assessed for violent tendencies.
On Wednesday, lawyers for the State Government asked the Supreme Court to impose an extended supervision order upon Nikola Novakovich.
They said that, from September 18, he would be free from all oversight unless the court granted such an order, used previously to track gunmen, bikies and drug addicts.
For years, SA Police considered Novakovich, 47, of Coober Pedy, the prime suspect in the August 1990 disappearance and alleged murder of Ms Williams, 16.
Her body has never been recovered.
Novakovich stood trial in 2015, with prosecutors alleging he murdered the teenager either by firearm or rape and strangulation because she had witnessed him commit an armed robbery.
Novakovich rejected that allegation, with his counsel claiming the prosecution’s key witness — a former friend of his — had committed the murder.
The Supreme Court found Novakovich not guilty of both murder and the alternate charge of manslaughter.
The court ruled the evidence inferred Novakovich had “an involvement” in Miss Williams’ death and the disposal of her body, but that did not amount to proof he killed her.
Many of the details of that case remain the subject of court-imposed suppression orders, as does all of Novakovich’s criminal history prior to September 2014.
That second order is not related to the Karen Williams case, however its terms prohibit The Advertiser from reporting why it was imposed.
Subsequent to that suppressed offending, Novakovich was convicted of an aggravated assault that occurred in November 2017.
He was jailed for one year and 10 months with a 14-month non-parole period, expiring on September 18 this year.
The extended supervision order legislation was introduced by former Attorney-General John Rau SC in January 2016.
It allows the Supreme Court to order ongoing electronic monitoring of offenders deemed at “high-risk” of committing further crimes.
Tony Douglas Grosser, who shot police officer Derrick McManus during a 1994 siege, was subject to an order, as was former Mongols bikie Anthony Wells.
Orders have also been placed upon Benjamin Anthony Biles, who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl at a party, and intellectually disabled child sex offender Stephen John Sullivan.
On Wednesday, Andrew Ey, for Novakovich, said his client had already been released from prison on parole and had attended court in person.
He said he did not oppose Novakovich being assessed, even though that would delay his client’s freedom for between three and six months.
Justice Trish Kelly ordered Novakovich be assessed “by a health professional … about his likelihood of further acts of serious violence” and return to court in September.