Darwin Wilson, 18, faces court over alleged Black Weir assault

An 18-year-old charged over allegedly assaulting a woman who was out walking her dog in Kirwan has applied for bail in court, supported by his family.

Policed declared a crime scene at Black Weir Park in Townsville, after a woman was attacked in the early morning of January 6.

An 18-year-old arrested for ‘assault with intent to commit rape’ after he allegedly attacked a woman who was out walking her dog in Kirwan has applied for bail in court, supported by his family.

The alleged attack occurred on Monday morning, January 6.

The arrested teen has been named as Darwin Wilson, who was represented by defence lawyer Daniel Rigden in Townsville Magistrates Court on January 7.

Mr Ridgen stressed that his young client “should be presumed innocent at every stage”.

“There is no smoking gun in the evidence,” Mr Ridgen said of the police case.

“There is closed circuit television footage of a person who is probably the offender, who matches my client’s description, but there are a lot of people who match my client’s description.”

The court heard police had also executed a search warrant and found that Mr Wilson owned a pair of “stripy shorts” that matched what the offender wore in the CCTV footage, and also found what they believe to be his fingerprints on the bicycle the offender used.

“A lot of people wear shorts,” Mr Ridgen said.

“The DNA evidence on the bike is problematic for him... but there are possible circumstances like a circumstance where the culprit has taken his bike.”

The DNA evidence is currently undergoing testing.

The court heard Mr Wilson lives with his mother, uncle and four siblings in a Douglas home located less than 900m from where the alleged assault occurred alongside the Ross River.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Tim Madsen said the police evidence against Mr Wilson was “exceedingly strong”.

“The allegations involve a very serious charge where there is also significant violence perpetrated on an individual in a public place,” Sgt Madsen said.

“It’s random sexual violence where there is substantial injury to the complainant.”

Sgt Madsen said the random attack in a public park “sits so far outside the range of ordinary human experience” and the court had good reason to find Mr Wilson posed too much of a risk to public safety to grant him bail.

Magistrate Ken Taylor chose to deny Mr Wilson bail.

He ordered a brief of evidence be prepared and adjourned the matter to February 13, 2025.

Originally published as Darwin Wilson, 18, faces court over alleged Black Weir assault