Ex-NAAJA lawyer Samantha Alampi’s defence awaiting outstanding ‘relevant’ statement

The case of the former employee of the Territory’s Aboriginal legal service, allegedly busted in bed with an escaped parolee, has met a minor roadblock.

Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

A lawyer defending a former NAAJA employee – who was busted allegedly in bed with an escaped parolee – says he’s now waiting for police to hand over a statement from someone “relevant” to the case.

Samantha Alampi, 37, is facing three charges and was not present in the Alice Springs Local Court on Thursday during a brief preliminary examination mention.

Samantha Alampi. Picture: File

Ms Alampi was arrested in November last year and charged with hindering a member of the police force, obstructing an officer of the court, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

She was allegedly found in bed with an escaped parolee inside an Alice Springs hotel when she was arrested, the Australian has previously reported.

Ms Alampi was excused if legally represented at her last mention on June 5, with her lawyer Greg Betts asking for the matter to again be adjourned on Thursday.

Her appearance was again excused.

Defence lawyer Greg Betts outside the Alice Springs Local Court. Picture: Gera Kazakov

Ms Alampi is accused of assisting a 20-year-old escaped parolee – who had previously been sentenced to two-and-half years for manslaughter – after he cut off his ankle monitor and breached his parole in November, 2024.

The man was rearrested in November last year, and when he fronted the court again Judge David Woodroffe ordered he serve “the balance” of a four month non-parole period.

A plea was not entered at Ms Alampi’s latest mention, where Mr Betts said cell phone data relevant to the case had been disclosed to him on Thursday at the bar table.

At Ms Alampi’s last mention on June 5, Mr Betts said phone records had not been disclosed to the defence.

A statement from a “civilian who is relevant to the case” had not been tendered by police, Mr Betts said on Thursday.

Mr Betts did not elaborate on who the civilian is, or what their relevance was to the case.

Prior to her arrest, Ms Alampi worked with NAAJA and held roles within the Alice Springs Local Court.

She is no longer employed by either.

If found guilty of her charges she could face up to 14 years behind bars.

Judge Anthony Hopkins, who presided over the mention, adjourned Ms Alampi’s matter to July 24.

She is excused from her next appearance if legally represented.

Originally published as Ex-NAAJA lawyer Samantha Alampi’s defence awaiting outstanding ‘relevant’ statement