Keith Kerinauia to use CCTV in self-defence plea in Declan Laverty murder trial

A 20-year-old accused of murder will use the CCTV of a Darwin bottleshop worker’s final moments as part of his self-defence plea, a court has heard.

Damian Crook will remember his son, Declan Laverty, for his old soul and true friendship.

Prosecutors will attempt to tear down a self-defence plea from Declan Laverty’s alleged murderer, arguing the young man was “thrilled and excited by violence”, a court has heard.

Keith Kerinauia is expected to plead not guilty to the murder of 20-year-old bottleshop worker.

Mr Laverty’s death has sparked a flood of tough on crime policies and rhetoric from parliament.

Kerinauia is accused of fatally stabbing Mr Laverty minutes before the worker was due to finish his shift at the Airport Tavern BWS in March.

Declan Laverty, 20, was allegedly stabbed to death at The Airport Tavern in Darwin about 9pm Sunday, March 19, 2023. Police are investigating a string of other incidents leading up to his death at the Jingili tavern. Picture: Facebook

On Tuesday Chief Justice Michael Grant was told that every second of the alleged armed assault was captured by CCTV, which would form the basis of Kerinauia’s self-defence plea.

However, prosecutor Marty Aust said the courts would need to rule over how much of the now 20-year-old’s history could be presented to the jury to “contextualise” his self-defence argument.

Justice Grant said there was “very little scope for the tendency” in a self-defence plea.

A crime scene was established around the Airport Tavern after a young man died after he was allegedly stabbed while working. Picture: Sierra Haigh

“(But) if you have a tendency to engage in unprovoked violent attacks with a state of mind to be thrilled and excited by violence and it extends over a long period of time — it is relevant,” Mr Aust responded.

The prosecutor said currently the trial included 28 civilian witnesses and 23 police witnesses, however many could be dismissed depending on the admissibility of certain evidence following a February 5 hearing.

Mr Aust also asked for the trial to be moved forward a week “out of an abundance of caution”.

He said jury selection in high profile cases was often more complex, while the 51 witnesses and a jury visit to the alleged murder scene could result in the trial running over time.

Justice Grant joked that the courts would have to be careful about the jury excursion.

“Justice Barr did one once and the jury hijacked the bus and he had to discharge them — they went on a frolic of their own,” Justice Grant said.

A pre-trial hearing was set for January 2 before acting Justice Graham Hiley, with the 10-day hearing set to begin on June 7.

Originally published as Keith Kerinauia to use CCTV in self-defence plea in Declan Laverty murder trial